Children Start Petition To Remove Toys From Fast Food Kid's Meals


Weird | By Bruce Bridges | July 11, 2019

Fast food is a multi-billion dollar behemoth that we just can't get enough of despite knowing how unhealthy the food can be. Fast food chains like McDonalds and Burger King can offer fast and cheap food to consumers, making it an easy choice for people with little time or little money.

From an early age, kids get hooked to the stuff. It is hard to blame them for that. The colorful signs and deliciously sweet/salty/savory foods can be irresistible, not to mention the play places that the restaurants prove for free for their patrons. It can be a cheap date for you and your kid.

Fast food restaurants have one other major component to what makes them so addictive to kids. I'm talking about the toy-filled Happy Meal. Kid's number one option at any fast food place is the kids meal, complete with a fun toy, but kids have turned against the toys in the wake of the global warming crisis.

An Unlikely Petition

Petitions have always been a tool to prove public interest around a certain topic, but in the age of the internet, the petition has gotten out of control. People have even petitioned to change the ending of the Game of Thrones television show. It is truly an age of entitlement when it comes to people using petitions. That doesn't mean all petitions are done in bad faith, however. This petition started by two kids comes from the right place, but that doesn't make it any less baffling.

I'm talking about a petition started by two kids requesting that the two biggest fast food chains, McDonalds and Burger King, stop handing out toys with their happy meals. Wait a minute. Since when do kids not want toys? It all has to do with plastic's effect on our environment, specifically the ocean.

The Children Have Revolted Against Fast Food

The petition already has half a million signatures from people who believe that the plastic used is harmful to our environment. The petition reads, "We like to go to eat at Burger King and McDonald's, but children only play with the plastic toys they give us for a few minutes before they get thrown away and harm animals and pollute the sea. We want anything they give to us to be sustainable so we can protect the planet for us and for future generations."

The petition has even been featured on a documentary called War on Plastic airing on the BBC. A 9 year old and a 7 year old started the petition six months ago, and it has gained traction ever since. In the age of environmental awareness, it's no surprise it has gained so much traction.

A Tradition Since 1979

Fast food chains have included toys with their happy meal since 1979, much to the delight of kids around the world. It's not just a fun thing for kids. Adults searching for nostalgia collect the old toys, meaning some of those older toys can go for a pretty penny on the internet.

The petition further explains their intentions, "After we learned about the environment and pollution in school we wanted to do everything we could to help. We put a poster up in the window of our house about saving the planet and we try and recycle as much as we can. But we want to do more, which is why we started this petition. It's not enough to make recyclable plastic toys - big, rich companies shouldn't be making toys out of plastic at all."

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