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A lawsuit that seeks to stop McDonald's from selling Happy Meals should be dismissed because parents can always prohibit their children from consuming the food, the hamburger giant said in a court filing on Monday.
The lawsuit claims McDonald's unfairly uses toys to lure children into its restaurants. The plaintiff, Monet Parham - a Sacramento, mother of two - claims the company's advertising violates California consumer protection laws.
The Happy Meal has been a huge hit for McDonald's - making the company one of the world's largest toy distributors - and spawning me-too offerings at most other fast-food chains.
But lately it also has come under fire from public health officials, parents and lawmakers who are frustrated with rising childhood obesity rates and weak anti-obesity efforts from restaurant operators, which are largely self-regulated.
Parham, who filed suit last December, is represented by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, a nutrition advocacy group.
In the lawsuit, Ms Parham admits she frequently tells her children 'no' when they ask for Happy Meals, McDonald's said in a court filing late on Monday.
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