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McDonald's advertising on children's report cards

Posted Dec 6th 2007 8:45AM by Zac Bissonnette
Filed under: Marketing and advertising, McDonald's (MCD)

Alex Rodriguez and Ronald McDonald This is pretty appalling: Not content with exposing kids to junk food on television and on every street corner, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) has apparently decided that it needs to reach out to kids on their report card envelopes.

An Orlando parent was upset when her 9-year-old daughter brought home her report card. But it wasn't Ds and "acts obnoxious in class" comments that annoyed this mom: the envelope the child brought home displayed a nice advertisement for McDonald's -- the chain whose food can have such a bad impact on health that it inspired a hit documentary.

The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood is, of course, not too happy about all this, and issued a press release demanding that the ads be pulled.



As a practical matter, these ads aren't really a big deal. For better or for worse, kids are exposed to fast food advertising pretty much from the cradle to the grave. But does the school really need cash so badly that it would participate in a campaign to market unhealthy food to children?

Another problem I have with it: The ad offered kids a free Happy Meal for their good work. Shouldn't kids be taught to work for knowledge and pride, not crappy food and imported toys?

Tags: children, inthenews, marketing, MCD, McDonald's, school

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