McDonald's applauds lawsuit dismissal

SAN FRANCISCO, April 5 (UPI) -- McDonald's Corp. hailed a court decision in California that allows the fast-food giant to continue providing toys with its "Happy Meals."

"We stand on our 30-year track record of providing a fun experience for kids and families at McDonald's," said company spokeswoman Danya Proud after a judge in San Francisco dismissed a class-action lawsuit that charged the company with using toys to lure children to food considered to be unhealthy.

The Los Angeles Times Thursday said the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the California mother who filed the suit would discuss a possible appeal of the ruling.

"McDonald's must stop exploiting children at some point," said the watchdog group's executive director Michael Jacobson.

Jacobson said using toys to lure children to unhealthy meals was "a predatory practice."

In time, the practice "will seem as inappropriate and anachronistic as lead pain, child labor and asbestos," he said.