San Francisco law curbs McDonald's Happy Meal toys Reuters By Lisa Baertlein Lisa Baertlein – 1 hr 23 mins ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – San Francisco on Tuesday became the first major U.S. city to pass a law that cracks down on the popular practice of giving away free toys with unhealthy restaurant meals for children.
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors passed the law on a veto-proof 8-to-3 vote. It takes effect on December 1, 2011.
The law, like an ordinance passed earlier this year in nearby Santa Clara County, would require that restaurant kids' meals meet certain nutritional standards before they could be sold with toys.
Opponents of the law include the National Restaurant Association and McDonald's Corp, which used its now wildly popular Happy Meal to pioneer the use of free toys to market directly to children.
"We are extremely disappointed with today's decision. It's not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for," McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said in a statement.
"Getting a toy with a kid's meal is just one part of a fun, family experience at McDonald's," Proud said.
The San Francisco law would allow toys to be given away with kids' meals that have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables, and include beverages without excessive fat or sugar.
Backers of the ordinance say it aims to promote healthy eating habits while combating childhood obesity.
"Our children are sick. Rates of obesity in San Francisco are disturbingly high, especially among children of color," said San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure.
"This is a challenge to the restaurant industry to think about children's health first and join the wide range of local restaurants that have already made this commitment," Mar said..........................>>>>..............................>>>>.................................http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101103/hl_nm/us_mcdonalds_toys
Typical west coast tom-foolery...when will they learn you can't legislate good nutrition? Like the kids drive to Mcdonalds to buy them. If I was a Mcdonalds exec, I'd kill the happy meal and re-vamp all of my value meals to include a small, medium and large size with toys included with all.
I'm convinced most of the people west of the rockies are on dope... What else could explain the re-election of Harry Reid and the re-re-election of Jerry Brown? All this, while turning down a prop legalizing pot...
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Typical west coast tom-foolery...when will they learn you can't legislate good nutrition? Like the kids drive to Mcdonalds to buy them. If I was a Mcdonalds exec, I'd kill the happy meal and re-vamp all of my value meals to include a small, medium and large size with toys included with all.
I'm convinced most of the people west of the rockies are on dope... What else could explain the re-election of Harry Reid and the re-re-election of Jerry Brown? All this, while turning down a prop legalizing pot...
..............and the east coast, aka NYS, is any better?
This is yet just another example of intrusive government in our personal lives AND in private business!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
How much do you want to bet that the recently defeated Angelo Santabarbara brings this up in Schenectady County for consideration some time before his next re-election? Goes right along with his calorie counting ploy.
Mayor vetoes San Francisco ban on Happy Meals with toys By Michael Martinez, CNN November 12, 2010 8:33 p.m. EST
(CNN) -- San Francisco, California, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed Friday the city's ban on most McDonald's Happy Meals with toys. In making the veto, the mayor released a new report on how a public-private partnership is combating childhood obesity and how San Francisco's more than 55,000 public school students are now eating fresher and healthier foods. "Parents, not politicians, should decide what their children eat, especially when it comes to spending their own money," said Newsom. "Despite its good intentions, I cannot support this unwise and unprecedented governmental intrusion into parental responsibilities and private choices." Under a partnership with the private sector, the local government has been remedying the root causes of obesity, Newsom said. Since the city launched its "Shape Up San Francisco" program in 2006, the city has received state funds to expand physical exercise for schoolchildren, put gardens in schools, delineate safe school routes to walk and bike to school, and educate kids about making healthy choices, Newsom said...............>>>>.................>>>>...............http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/12/california.fast.food.ban/index.html?hpt=T2
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