Most parents are familiar with the scenario: You’re trying to get little Emily to eat well, but she saw an ad for a new toy in a Happy Meal and she really wants it. But you know – and nutritionists will tell you – that so-called “happy” meals are loaded with unhappy levels of fat and salt. Now, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has sent a letter to McDonald’s threatening to sue the company unless is stops using toys to sell food. What do you think? Is marketing to young children inherently deceptive? If kids are so malleable—and their parents so powerless to cut off the message—should corporations be banned from advertising directly to children ever? Or is that going too far?
Guests:
Stephen Gardner, Litigation Director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Jacob Sullum, Senior Editor, Reason magazine