Burger King Scraps Kids Meal Plastic Toys, Beats McDonald’s Happy Meal | Eater London

"Rather than scrapping toys outright, the company has opted to trial offering customers a choice—plastic toy, a bag of fruit, or, from 2020, a book—arguing that this helps understand customer motives and preserves a source of fun for many families; its chief executive, Lee Pomroy, has said customers can also opt for no gift. The policy followed a petition by Caitlin and Ella McEwan that garnered around half a million signatures urging an end to plastic toys. While framed as responsive, critics note the gesture does not address larger environmental and labor concerns tied to mass beef production and low wages, and worry the change could amount to a 'plastic straw' style concession unless broader practices are reformed; the company operates just under 40,000 restaurants worldwide." - James Hansen