In his response to the Center for Science in the Public Interest s (CSPI) threat to sue if they do not remove toys from their Happy Meals, McDonald s CEO Jeff Skinner castigates CSPI for their inflammatory rhetoric and believes they owe Americans an apology:
CSPI s twisted characterization of McDonald s as the stranger in the playground handing out candy to children is an insult to every one of our franchises and employees around the world. When CSPI refers to America s children as an unpaid drone army, you similarly denigrate parents and families, because they are fully capable of making their own decisions. You should apologize.CSPI is wrong in its assertions, and frivolous in its legal threats ¦McDonald s makes available in-depth, comprehensive nutrition information about our food to give parents the support they need to make appropriate choices for their children.
ACSH applauds McDonald's for standing up to the strong-arm tactics of activists groups such as CSPI.