B2 – Upper Intermediate
With hopes of reducing the growing number of overweight children, Chile’s government bans marketing of toys in children’s food. McDonald’s Happy Meal and Kinder Surprise Egg are some, among others, affected by this measure.
Read this article about Chile banning Mc Donald’s Happy Meals.
Discussion Questions:
- What are your thoughts on this ban? Should this policy be adapted on a global scale? Why or why not?
- What are your thoughts on unhealthy food being passed off as something that could make kids happy?
- What are other ways to keep children from becoming overweight?
- What are things that the health authority in your country is doing to keep children healthy?
- Were you fond of fastfood as a kid? Why or why not?
4 replies on “Chile Bans McDonald’s Happy Meals”
1. Yes, since this type of food has a high percentage of fat and salt, marketing it to children is pure manipulation. However, parents also have an important educational role when it comes to food.
2. I consider this type of marketing campaign to be extremely harmful, and companies should be prevented from using this type of manipulation, especially with children.
3. During these stages of growth, children should have a varied and healthy diet. Parents should promote a healthy lifestyle, based on knowledge of food and its respective composition, as well as physical activity. From a very young age, I taught my niece about the importance of reading the labels with the composition of the products she wants to buy. This practice should apply to food and also to clothing.
4. I don’t know if there is a national program in Spain or Portugal in this area. However, I know that in Madrid, the local government was heavily criticized for wanting to introduce hamburgers and pizzas in school cafeterias.
5. Actually, as a child born in Portugal in the 1980s, fast food was a distant reality, especially outside the country’s major cities. It became a reality a few decades later. However, I know that control of this type of product is more restrictive in Europe than in the US.
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Hello, Katie. I am unable to access the link you provided (“the page you requested may not be available or may have changed its URL”). Best regards. CSF
Resolved. Thanks.