Happy Meals' toys provoke lawsuit

WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- The Center for Science in the Public Interest said Tuesday it would sue U.S. fast-food giant McDonald's for handing out toys with Happy Meals.

CSPI said the toys unfairly "lure small children into McDonald's" in a marketing ploy that is "illegal under various state consumer protection laws."

CSPI, defining itself as a nutrition watchdog group, said it informed McDonald's Tuesday of its intention to file suit.

"McDonald's is the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children," CSPI litigation director Stephen Gardner said in a statement.

"McDonald's use of toys undercuts parental authority and exploits young children's developmental immaturity," he said.

CSPI's statement said McDonald's pledged in 2007 not to advertise meals that have more than 600 calories to children. The pledge included limits on percentages of fat and sugar content in items it would market targeting a young demographic group.

Happy Meals, regardless of what combination is chosen -- out of 24 possibilities -- all exceed 430 calories, more than a third of the recommended daily intake for children ages 4 to 8, the group said. The combination of a cheeseburger, French fries and Sprite includes 640 calories with 7 grams of saturated fat and "about two days' worth of sugar -- 35 grams," the group said.