Politicians in California are taking on the happy meal. San Francisco wants to ban the toys on the unhealthy fast food meal. Some other states have the similar law who are all in the effort to fight against childhood obesity. McDonald’s gives toys to kids to attract them to purchase. The scientists of public interest maintains that tempting children with toys is unfair and deceptive, both to kids who don’t understand the concept of advertising, but also to their parents who have to put up with their nagging children. But there are some doubts that whether tempting kids with toys really pulls them away from healthier food or whether it’s just pulls them away from other fast food restaurant.
To my perspective, McDonald’s did a great job in marketing. They open in almost every street corner which provides such a great convenience. They got the right target to those parents who are busy in work and not have enough time to make food for their children. They offer such a low price and serve so fast that saved parents a lot of time and money.
Furthermore, giving toys to kids in the happy meal is not only in the purpose of tempting children. It is actually an action of adding value to the product. Parents who are busy in work would find McDonald’s very thoughtful to prepare toys for their children with such a low price. Children’s utility would be maximized when they can play the toy and eat at the same time.
If giving toys is the only reason that parents choose McDonald’s but not the healthy food, restaurants which offers healthy food can also try to give toys to children in their happy meal. But I don’t think that could work out.