Early in the morning while traveling home from a visit with our family in Boston, I started reading the "Boston Globe." At first I thought I was sleepy and misreading the headline of an article that stated "Suit will say toys in Happy Meals break the law."

But as I read The Associated Press article by Mary Clare Jalonick further, it became clear that people at the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) are serious. They are threatening to sue McDonald's saying that it "unfairly and deceptively" markets the toys (in the Happy Meals) to children. This sounds like overkill.

"Happy Meals" are usually a selection of not-so-healthy foods accompanied by some short-lived toy for younger kids. While no sensible adult would recommend fast food for children as a steady diet, parents should be able to make an intelligent decision about how often junior should partake of this specialty, rather than have a consumer advocacy group file a lawsuit.

The whole subject offers lots of food for thought. One dramatic statement made in the article was a claim that "McDonald's marketing has the effect of conscripting America's children into an unpaid drone army of word-of-mouth marketers, causing them to nag their parents to bring them to McDonald's."

One has to wonder if those filing the suit have ever raised or lived with young children. Most kids are pros at nagging their parents for things their friends have, those advertised on TV and any object that interests them at the moment.

This nagging seems to be innate and is one reason that children desperately need competent and loving parents who can say "no" when it is in their child's best interest. Every day kids beg for candy, sleepovers, clothes parents don't like or can't afford, skipping baths, staying up late, pets they won't take care of or any other thing that crosses their minds.

Nagging can be effective. Years ago I remember giving in to our children's incessant clamoring for "Clackers," a new cereal that TV ads promised was delicious. After eating the cereal, the kids learned that TV commercials aren't always true. The lesson was worth more than the cost of the cereal.

One has to ask just how committed the CSPI is to the McDonald's Happy Meal issue, since it is reported that this organization has "filed dozens of lawsuits against food companies in recent years (and) is hoping the publicity and the threat of a lawsuit will force McDonald's to negotiate with them on the issue."

It's not clear what there is to be negotiated. Does the CSPI think that removing trinkets from a "Happy Meal" will result in fewer kids wanting to eat at McDonald's? Probably better not gamble on that premise.

In a nation with many serious issues, we have a group of individuals clamoring for less happiness at the fast food counter. While we have a national obesity problem in this country and healthier eating styles and choices are clearly needed, it is a far reach to suggest a high correlation between one fast food provider's children's toys and obesity.

However, it wouldn't be bad if CSPI began advocating that parents work more diligently to see that their young children develop good eating habits and do not consume excessive unhealthy foods, including too much fast food. But who could you sue to achieve that end? The threatened suit against Happy Meals really seems like overkill.

Diane W. Mufson is a licensed psychologist in Huntington. She is a former citizen member of The Herald-Dispatch editorial board and a regular contributor to The Herald-Dispatch editorial page. Her e-mail is dwmufson@comcast.net.

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