Style

San Francisco Bans the Happy Meal: No More Toys With Fatty Meals

by Amy Judd | November 2, 2010 at 03:29 pm

1157 views | 2 Recommendations | 8 comments

San Francisco Has Banned The Giving Away of Toys With Meals That Contain High Levels of Calories, Sugar and Fat

This means that the child favorite, the McDonald's Happy Meal, can no longer be sold in its current state at McDonald's restaurants in the city.

This makes San Francisco the first major city in the United States that has barred restaurants from offering a toy with a meal that does not meet nutritional guidelines. If a restaurant wants to give away a toy then they must provide fruits and vegetables with all children's meals.

"We're part of a movement that is moving forward an agenda of food justice," said Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure. "From San Francisco to New York City, the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country is making our kids sick, particularly kids from low income neighborhoods, at an alarming rate. It's a survival issue and a day-to-day issue."

The measure passed by eight votes and a similar measure has already been enacted in Santa Clara County.

Just after the vote, McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said, "We are extremely disappointed with today's decision. It's not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for."

The ban comes into effect on December 2011, and then restaurants will only be able to provide a toy if the meal is less than 600 calories and less than 35% of those calories come from fat.

Some parents and groups supported the measure, but others say it is their right to decide what to give their children and not the government's right.

Other companies will also be affected, but due to the popularity of McDonald's they have become the face of the ban.

This comes on the same day that McDonald's re-introduced the McRib sandwich for the next six weeks.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Sign In or Join to post comments

PCEnemy (not verified)

at 05:01 on November 4th, 2010

People will learn - democrats and progressives are Racist to their core. Now we have our darling progressive/liberal democrats passing laws to help the ignorant, uneducated, incapable minorities in determining what their children should be allowed to eat. What they're saying is that these groups of people are not capable of making responsible decisions when it comes to raising their children, so 'big brother' must step in and do it for them. Minorities and low-income families need to realize that the democratic party is not your friend - rather they've targeted you as the best means of developing a dependant base of voters. Once they have all your rights - access to jobs (capntrade); health care (obama care); transportation (cash for clunkers - just waiting for them to take over the loans they duped you into taking); housing - freddie mac and gnma (they'll negotiate the payments if you just do what you're told); education - why do you think they won't let you have vouchers or demand performance from the teachers unions? ----------- then you'll do exactly what you're told and you'll be required to vote for them for the little pittances they'll dole out from taxing the big bad rich people. It's not only coming - it has one hell of a food hold.

Bojack (not verified)

at 15:04 on November 4th, 2010

The reason for childhood obesity is that parents take their kids eat there everyday and then the kids don't do any exercising. I ate at Mcdonalds a lot as a kid, and I wasn't overweight. I was outside almost everyday being active. You also have to remember that genetics are also a big factor in whether or not kids are going to be obese. Besides, they offer apple slices and juice at Mcdonalds as well. You can always buy the toy seperately anyways.

ChrisNCC1701 (not verified)

at 11:23 on November 5th, 2010

Childhood obesity has nothing to do with McDonalds. It has to do with a lazy society and in-active children. Most parents are morons; they have no business having children. The government has no right to tell a business how they can market their food product.Have you noticed how expensive it is to eat healthy? The government has made this so. They want people to be unhealthy and sick. There is a lot of money in dealing with sick people. There is no money to be made in a healthy society! Maybe if you could get a healthy meal for $3.99 there wouldn't be so much obesity.Grow up! The government is the cause of these problems! It is time for a revolution!

bellflwr (not verified)

at 11:06 on November 10th, 2010

all have very good points. I see that honestly we do have a problem with child obesity, but restaurants aren't shoving food down people's throats. they choose to eat there because face it, healthy food IS expensive. But the government is going about this the wrong way, is anyone else feeling like America isn't free anymore? Smoking and eating are being micromanaged along with other things and inch by inch so is our freedom. Thats just dam good marketing that these restaurants have. The responsibility is the parents and parents alone (even if they aren't fit to have kids). Re-enforce PT programs within EVERY school, stop buying your kids video games and get them a bike, and push for our government to stop making certain foods a tough decision between eating right and paying your light bill.

antinanny (not verified)

at 08:37 on November 3rd, 2010

Just what we need. The state acting as a babysitter. Why dont we just hand our children over to the government until they turn 18 so they can decide how to indoctrinate them?And there are people who support these measures? Seriously?

Manny Castro

at 11:44 on November 3rd, 2010

I agree. The government shouldn't act as a parent.

alfdkj (not verified)

at 13:38 on November 4th, 2010

The government is simply trying to reverse the brainwashing that McDonalds and similar companies have been practicing on kids. For years they've been conditioning kids to associate the incentive of a toy with their unhealthy food to luring them into preferring their product over another. Although it is a brilliant marketing technique, it is also one reason why childhood obesity is so prevalent.

Terri G. (not verified)

at 22:12 on November 4th, 2010

Okay. So I just buy the Happy Meal and then pay extra for the toy. I will be damned if the government will tell me what I can or cannot buy and what I can or cannot feed to my children. Talk about too much government. This is just about as stupid as the judge that said a 4 year old can be sued for negligently riding her bike (with training wheels no less). How about focusing on jobs and homelessness and the environment. So, guess I will never go to San Fran. Too bad too cuz it was on my list of vacation places.