End the Happy Meal toys, McDonald’s told

MCDONALD’S should stop giving away plastic toys with its Happy Meals, an environment minister said.

Therese Coffey said children play with the toys for only five minutes – but they take five centuries to degrade. At a fringe event at the Tory conference, she called on the fast food firm and other companies to make ‘symbolic changes’ to show they are reducing single-use plastics.

Ministers have taken action to cut plastic waste and the Mail’s Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign has led to curbs.

A McDonald’s spokesman said: ‘We are committed to reducing our environmental impact… for example, with our move from recyclable plastic straws to paper.

‘Our Happy Meal toys provide fun for children in our restaurants [and] many more fun-filled hours at home. They can be recycled.’