Questions answered
There are 52 questions about “Happy Meals” in the “How do you operate?” topic.
Click on a question to read our answer.
- 16. My children enjoy saving up Happy Meal toys but get really disappointed when they often get the same toy again and are told that is the only one available. Do restaurants get a mix of toys or only one toy at a time? How often are the toys changed? Thank you
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Firstly McDonald's apologises unreservedly for the late reply to your question. There were some technical problems which caused some questions to slip through.
Regarding your question; Sorry about this. Within each Happy Meal, there is usually at least one new toy (sometimes several, depending on the number of toys in the range) each week. The restaurant receives the toys for one week and then gets deliveries for the next. So for example, in week one of a Happy Meal promotion, only the first week's toy(s) will be available, then in week two the week two toys are available - plus any left over from week one, and so on. If there is a specific toy in the range your children are hoping for, then your restaurant manager or customer care team representative will be able to advise you when the toy will be available and how it may be purchased separately, while stocks last.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 17. How come you can not buy a happy Meal with out a toy? You can buy the toy seperate but not the Happy Meal.
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The toy is a signature part of the Happy Meal and is an extra treat for McDonald's younger customers. If you do not wish to receive the toy, just let the crew member know and they will keep it for the next customer. Just like the toy itself, you can buy any of the Happy Meal items individually.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 18. I noticed that the side of a Happy Meal box contained a list of interesting facts for kids. I think this is a good thing. However, a number of the facts where given in imperial mesurements (feet for example). Considering that kids are not tought imperial mesurements in school this can only be confusing for them, and get them into bad habbits. Will McDonalds commit to going metric only, at least, on their happy meals?
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Thank you for your comments. This is an interesting scenario, as there should be no imperial measurements on the Happy Meal boxes. McDonald’s has redesigned the boxes with measurement details displayed in metric format. McDonald's would be grateful if you could contact the company with a description of this Happy Meal box so that the matter can be fully investigated. Please use the 'Contact Us' link at www.mcdonalds.co.uk to contact the Customer Service team. Thank you.
(August 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 19. hi can you pls have your fries salt less for kids meals or open the other fries bay up that most stores have sitting there doing nothing for saltless fries or even stop putting salt on all the fries and give a small bag of salt with each box of fries ty
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McDonald's has spent some time working on reducing the salt in its French Fries. The company conducted a trial of self-salting fries in 13 restaurants. The trial revealed that customers preferred salted fries, and that when they added salt themselves; customers tended to put more salt onto their fries than when the restaurant salted them. As a result, McDonald's has reverted to salted fries but has reduced the amount of salt by 24 percent compared with three years ago. The company continues to provide unsalted fries to customers who ask for them. If you do make an order of fries to be prepared without salt, it may take a little longer than the time that the crew member has given you. In this case, just ask the crew member to gather the order at the same time that the fries are ready, or to keep the rest of your food in the warming bin until your complete order is ready to be served. McDonald's also realises that marketing to children is a sensitive issue and the company is careful to talk to children in a responsible way. For the most part, it is parents who make the decisions about the food their children eat and a lot of time is spent considering the opinions of parents in order to create marketing and advertising that conveys positive messages to children about food choices, using their imaginations and taking part in physical activity. For example, McDonald's television advertising to children only shows Happy Meal combinations that include one portion of fruit or veg, in support of the Government's 5-a-Day programme. 95 percent of McDonald's advertising budget is directed at people over the age of 16. Our Happy Meals are designed for children and we take our responsibility for marketing them seriously. We believe the food offered is of good quality - it is not junk - and can be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle.
DECEMBER '07 UPDATE: McDonald's French Fries are now fully accredited by the Vegetarian Society. (December 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 20. Why isn't a toy given to a child who substitutes fries for salad? And why isn't it still a Happy MEAL? Why are children penalized for eating healthy, and not given the toy as a promotion for good eating habits in a happy meal
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McDonald's would like to apologise for this. Toys should be available to all Happy Meal purchasers, regardless of the mix of products in that specific meal. Please contact the Customer Services team on 08705 244622 so they can deal with this issue on your behalf.
(October 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 21. My grandson told me that you are bringing out the same shrek 3 toys after the bee movie toys? Is this correct? If so, why are you doing this? He and I am sure several other children already have the shrek 3 toys!!! Please reply to my e-mail.
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Your grandson is absolutely right that there will be a Bee Movie Happy Meal in stores from the end of November which included a promotional fruit bag of pineapple and grape as well as different Bee Movie character toys. But Shrek the Third toys and Happy Meal will not be returning. When the Bee Movie Happy Meal finishes, you can both look forward to a boardgame themed Happy Meal.
(November 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 22. Could McDonalds do a promotion and give away the soon to be released video game PES 2008 instead of the boring toys in there Happy Meals?
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Currently, McDonald's has no plans to introduce this particular video game to the Happy Meal. McDonald's works closely with manufacturers to constantly improve the quality and levels of innovation in the toys used. Due to various constraints, including size and the safety regulations that all Happy Meal toys have to comply with, there are certain toys that McDonald's can't offer. However, McDonald's will have some new and exciting toys for you to look forward to in the coming months. (July 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 23. How does McDonalds feel about people selling Happy Meal toys on eBay at very high prices? Do you think that this is detrimental to the Happy Meal brand name?
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McDonald's is aware there are many collectors of Happy Meal toys and therefore in order to complete a range, they may be prepared to pay a higher price for a specific toy. While McDonald's does not encourage this re-sale of the Happy Meal toys, the company does not feel this is detrimental to the Happy Meal brand. If anything it is a compliment to the desirability of the Happy Meal toys McDonald's produce. (July 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 24. Could you please please please include a veggie option in your happy meals. Currently we are offered two portions of chips as an option??? Quorn do brilliant "chicken" nuggets for a meat substitute or a number of firms do vegetable fingers or nuggets. Your only veggie option at the moment is the spicy veg sub which is not really a good size for little'uns
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A vegetarian Happy Meal has been trialled before but didn't prove popular at the time. However, a new trial is underway that does include some additional fruit, vegetable and side choices that are vegetarian. And the company will continue to monitor the consumers' desire for a vegetarian main.
(November 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 25. two questions: firstly, will the batman meal ever come back? secondly: why is there such a backlash towards mcdonalds?
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Thanks for your questions. Currently there are no plans to re-introduce the Batman Happy Meal. With regard to your second question, success will attract as much negativity as it does encouragement and McDonald's is fully aware of this. As peoples' outlooks, opinions and lifestyles change, McDonald's has embraced the challenge of evolution across all areas of its business. McDonald's recognised that it needed to improve the clarity of the message that it was expressing about its food, and has been working with fortitude to achieve this. Initiatives such as this website are examples of the commitment and confidence that McDonald's has in its products; another is the Quality Scout programme. This unique programme allows anybody with a genuine interest in McDonald's and its food, to go behind the barn doors and the restaurant counters, and see just how the company conducts its business. McDonald's has also invested in improving its menu to give customers even more choice and value, plus detailed nutritional content information in-store and online to help customers make better informed choices about their diet. A wealth of information is available by logging onto www.mcdonaldsmenu.info for nutritional and GDA information and visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk to find out more about McDonald's food. If you would be interested in seeing for yourself and making up your own mind, why not apply to be a Quality Scout? Click on the 'Become a Scout' link on this site and follow the instructions.
(September 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 26. I applaud McDonald's for their efforts on food quality and the environment. My question is about the plastic toys that come with the Happy Meals. I would like to know where they are made? How much oil is used? What are the circumstances of the people making the toys? My kids initially liked the toys but now they couldn't care less about the toys. I am curious if other parents have found the same and do we really need the plastic toys that are landfilled shortly thereafter.
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Thank you for your support and probing question. McDonald's has strict procedures in place to ensure that all suppliers comply with its terms of business, and this includes the manufacturers of the Happy Meal toys across Europe and the Far East. Inspections are made of all premises and special attention is given to workers' conditions. At the moment, there is no global standard that applies to this kind of manufacture but suffice it to say, the company refuses to work with any company that does not treat its employees well, pays unfairly and/or uses child-labour. Unfortunately it is difficult to give you an answer on the amount of oil used in the making of the Happy Meal toys. Due to the various different styles and designs of the toys, the amount will vary from one toy to another. Sorry. McDonald’s is currently looking at ways to control its impact on the environment and is committed to reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill, through recycling, recovery, design improvements and re-use. Waste can be sent for use as biomass, to offset the use of fossil fuels, so the company is looking at a waste-to-energy pilot scheme in the Sheffield area. In terms of the Happy Meal toys - mums continue to tell us that they are an intrinsic part of the treat for the majority of children. So they're here to stay - but the company will strive to improve working practices across the business to lessen its impact on the environment.
(September 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 27. I would like an explanation why you have determined that part of the kids meal gift would be a year 2006 diary in 2007? I think that this act is unbecoming of a globally reputed food chain.
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Sorry for the disappointment. There was a Hello Kitty 2006 diary that went out as a toy in January 2006. This promotion has finished, so no more diaries should have been placed with any further Happy Meals. Please contact the Customer Services team on 08705 244622 so they can get all the details from you and investigate this matter fully.
(March 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 28. Was wondering if you will be doing the Noddy figures with the child's Happy meal again.
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There are no current plans to bring back the Noddy figures to the Happy Meals. However, if there is enough interest then they could make a return sooner. Contact the Customer Services team by logging onto www.mcdonalds.co.uk and clicking on the 'Contact Us' link. They are always keen to hear your suggestions.
(January 2007)
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 29. When you give away free toys with kids meals is the cost passed on through inflated prices on adult meals ?, if you stopped giving away free toys would the saving be passed on to the consumer ?
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No. The cost of Happy Meal toys is worked into the overall cost of a Happy Meal so you don't have to pay anything more for the toy.
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What are these? Delicious Digg Reddit Facebook StumbleUpon - 30. how many wombles was in the set of the toys you did in 1999
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There were 12 Wombles in the 1999 Happy Meal promotion.
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