A Call To Scrap Plastic Happy Meal Toys

in #food5 years ago

There have been calls for several years now from thousands of people who are ready to see fast food giants like McDonald's say goodbye to their plastic children's toys that are given away to millions every year.

One petition that was started on Change.org has already gained more than 330,000 signatures, calling for McDonald's and Burger King to end the use of plastic toys in their kids' meals.

Common concerns about the toys are that they aren't played with for very long, if at all, and those who are calling for the removal are concerned about the impact they might leave on the environment.

Are There Better Options?

McDonald's is already reportedly looking at alternative toy solutions that are more sustainble, and they've introduced books not long ago as an alternative choice to a toy for the children's meal. As the battle against plastic worldwide continues, the pressure and focus on these plastic toys will continue to grow.

In some areas like the U.K., the company will be looking to swap out toys for other options like books and even games, along with soft toy options, for a limited time, to see how their customers prefer those options to the hard plastic toys that are usually offered.

Other restaurants like Burger King might also be looking to soon make a change on their children's toys for the King Junior meals too. You can find kids meals being offered at a variety of restaurant establishments: Dairy Queen, Sonic, Subway, Wendy's, and others.

McDonald's happens to be the largest distributor of toys.


If they make a change to get rid of all or most of the hard plastic options then that is going to have a great impact.

As they've been recently trying to revamp the Happy Meal into a more healthier option for kids, they are still selling a great deal of Happy Meals and toys along with them.

In 2017, it's reported that they sold $10 million worth of Happy Meals every day.


Overall, Happy Meals are making up at least 15 percent of their annual revenue in the United States alone and the toy has always been a big draw for the meal.

Changing the toys might mean changing the fun and could drive families away to other places, it might mean seeing a decline in sales. However, if it's what people want as they've suggested through the petition, then perhaps they would opt to support the alternative because they'd be happy to see the removal of the plastic. Most people in the U.S. and other areas consume too much processed food regularly and the toys in the kids' packs have always been a big draw for many. Even though they've tried to aggressively pursue and market healthier options on the menu, it hasn't been enough for some to opt for McDonald's over one of the many other options in the market.

McDonald's did recently start serving fresh meat though, and as a result they reportedly saw a boost of 30 percent in sales for quarter pounders.

For now, McDonald's has reaffirmed that they are committed to reducing their plastic use going into the future, though they won't give specific details about any Happy Meal promotions following 2019 just yet on that end.

Pics:
pic1CBS
pic2 via Mirror
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The information posted above is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

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Lego has announced it will make its bricks out of “hemp plastic” by 2030! M&S (a British Institution 😆) is giving out plastic toys but will take them back at their counters to redistribute to other kids.

BTW it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Ronald McDonald, a blast from the past!

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really? that's incredible news!

I remember when Cracker Jacks use to have toys in them. Now they give a paper finger puppet thing in it and its so disappointing it goes in the trash without being opened. A few fast food places already do similar things like paper based puzzles or puppets. Kids don't play with them for long and throw them away. Doesn't help the garbage problem.

I've actually still got a lot of my old Happy Meal toys from the 80s and 90s. They are high quality toys. My kid plays with them now so they have gotten some mileage. Some things make comebacks like Disney movies and Muppet Babies. They have a new Muppet Babies on Disney and my kid loves the old 80s Happy Meal toys I gave her that were mine that I played with a lot. I hope they don't ruin Happy Meals with crappy prizes. So many things from my childhood are gone now and it's sad. I'm still depressed my kid can't experience the excitement of Saturday morning cartoons.

Most toys I have seen from there are just crap, easily broken, and at .43 cents on average per toy it isn't that great of quality either. Some have made a killing on that piece of junk though, re-selling toys years later for maybe even $100 😎 Cheap toys are a powerful influence to lure kids in to eat some deep fried pink slime 😉💰👍

i'd like to see them try some hemp toys! 😎

Little tiny pieces of plastic... that is what they are complaining about?

In my opinion, this is one of the best uses for plastic.
At least in the top ten.

Making a child happy and entertained for a while at the cost of a couple pennies of plastic? Priceless.

Further, if local dumps would get off their ass and build trash burning power plants. (dual stage, vortex burners) then the spent toys could have all of their energy turned into electricity.


Now, about McDs "happy meals", i would never let one of my kids near one.
Better food and better toys are at hand.

McDs knowingly, or unknowingly is out to destroy children. Make them obese and depressed.

Talking about the toys? They are a cheap, instant thrill. A novelty that will wear off in week, if not a day. This has its up sides and down sides.

I think the greatest trouble came from when McDs didn't put in a little plastic toy, but instead a bean bag doll. When they did this, lots of people, mostly women, purchased happy meals and then took out the toy, and threw the meal in the trash.

Apparently! That piece of plastic isn't making any child any happier and plastic costs a lot more than pennies. Long term damaged caused to the Earth and the process of removing it will be much more expensive in the end!

Please refrain from using the #steemleo tag unless you are posting about investments or crypto. Doing so can lead to being flagged by @noleo4u and a removal of any pending LEO rewards.

mcdonalds is a company that can be invested in? and the information in this post relates to their business plans for the future? could you be a little more specific?

it's better all fastfood would say goodbye to us;)
btw, some years ago it was a loud scandal with this clown. The man, the actor, said sorry to participate in popularization of food that kills people. Have you heard about it? Or it was lie?

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