The other day I learned that fast-food kids’ meals may be even less healthy than I thought. Fries aside, and not counting greasy burgers, sugary drinks or those processed chicken nuggety things, it turns out something else in those colorful, puzzle-tatted bags o’ fun could be a problem: the prize.
Apparently, Wendy’s recently removed a CD from its kids’ meals after parents complained about inappropriate lyrics that were part of a promotion with Universal Music. The Donna Summer disco classic “Last Dance” showed up with two different sets of lyrics. In one version she says she’s “so, so bad.” In another she says she’s “so horny.” Not exactly what mom and dad want their preschooler listening to as she sucks chocolate milk through a bendy straw.
On one hand I have to ask, Did no one at Wendy’s bother to listen to the track before giving it the green light? On the other hand, the fast-food chain had the decency to act quickly and take parents’ concerns seriously. I think Dave Thomas would’ve been proud of that response. Now all that remains is to convince Ronald McDonald and the Burger King to stop promoting PG-13 movies in their kiddie meals. Frankly, it would be nice if every restaurant took the approach of Chick-fil-A by featuring kids’ meal goodies such as books, educational toys or Adventures in Odyssey CDs.
I should add that I’m not categorically opposed to the cheap plastic trinkets that will no doubt end up in the “free” box at our next yard sale (though stepping on them in the middle of the night can be a bummer). Rather, as a dad and a culture watcher, it worries me that fast-food chains often seem more interested in their licensing partnerships than in partnering with parents.
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