The latest target in the battle over fast food is something you shouldn't even put in your mouth.Stupid nanny-state laws like this will not cause McDonald's to change their menus or get rid of highly profitable products like the Happy Meals. It may, however, cause them to rethink plans to operate or expand their restaurants in Santa Clara County. If they can ban the toy how long until they ban the happy meal or the Big Mac?
Convinced that Happy Meals and other food promotions aimed at children could make kids fat as well as happy, county officials in Silicon Valley are poised to outlaw the little toys that often come with high-calorie offerings.
The proposed ban is the latest in a growing string of efforts to change the types of foods aimed at youngsters and the way they are cooked and sold. Across the nation, cities, states and school boards have taken aim at excessive sugar, salt and certain types of fats.
Believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, the proposal would forbid the inclusion of a toy in any restaurant meal that has more than 485 calories, more than 600 mg of salt or high amounts of sugar or fat. In the case of McDonald's, the limits would include all of the chain's Happy Meals — even those that include apple sticks instead of French fries.
Supporters say the ban would encourage restaurants to offer more-nutritious foods to kids and would make unhealthful items less appealing. But opponents believe it amounts to government meddling in parental decisions.
I would love nothing more than for the County to pass this ordinance followed closely by McDonald's announcing the closure of all their stores in that County and the layoffs of all employees. Goodbye tax revenue.
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This state is falling apart at the seams and this is how Santa Clara spends its time? Criminalizing toys?
What's next, banning the sale of Cracker Jacks?
Best wishes,
Laura
Must be a lot of Obama's close relatives trying to run things in Santa Clara. My advice, stay far away from Santa Clara, don't give them even one cent.
This ban is taking away the rights and responsibilities of parents to make the correct choices for their children. Parents should be held responsible if they choose to feed their children too much fast food or allow them to live sedentary lifestyles, not the government. Therefore, government involvement in this issue is not warranted. We need to help stop this ban before it spreads to other municipalities in the U.S.
Eric Mar, member of the Board of Supervisors for the City and County of San Francisco, is asking for legislation similar to Santa Clara County’s happy meal toy ban. Call and tell him NO.
Eric Mar
415-554-7410
Eric.l.mar@sfgov.org
Mar’s request to ban kids meal toys can be found in this article from the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/28/MNLA1D5QFV.DTL
A leading kid-focused marketing agency for the restaurant industry, Creative Consumer Concepts (C3), has taken a stand on this issue. Bob Cutler, CEO, states that “unfortunately, banning kids meal toys from restaurants will not resolve childhood obesity. C3 has been educating, advocating and executing healthy food options for kids and parents and will continue to commit to supporting this issue.”Read more in their position paper on the toy ban: http://jenningssocialmedia.com/downloads/C3.SANTACLARA_Final.pdf
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