Santa Clara County votes to remove toys from salty, high-calorie fast-food kids' meals

April 27, 2010 | 3:45 pm In Santa Clara County, one out of every four kids is either overweight or obese. Among 2- to 5-year-olds from low-income families, the rate is one in three. The county health system spends millions of dollars a year treating kids for health problems related to obesity, and the tab is growing.

On Tuesday, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors took action by prohibiting fast-food restaurants from using toys to lure kids into buying unhealthy meals. The vote was 3-2.

In order to combine trinkets with burgers, chicken nuggets or other children's fare, a meal must meet some basic nutritional requirements. Among them:

-- No single food item can contain more than 200 calories, the drink cannot have more than 120 calories, and the entire meal cannot exceed 485 calories.

-- No single item can contain more than 480 milligrams of salt, and the entire meal is limited to 600 mg of salt.

-- No more than 35% of the calories can come from fat.

-- No more than 10% of total calories can come from added sugar.

None of McDonald’s Happy Meals meets these criteria – even those that substitute apple slices for french fries.

The ordinance must be approved at a second Board of Supervisors meeting in May. If so, restaurants will have 90 days to offer up alternative plans for squeezing fat, salt, sugar and calories out of kids’ meals. If none of the suggestions is suitable, the measure will become law for the 12 fast-food outlets in unincorporated parts of the county that are subject to the board’s jurisdiction. Violators would face a fine of up to $1,000.

Not surprisingly, the toy ban has angered folks who resent government efforts to help Americans eat healthier. The California Restaurant Assn., which represents fast-food eateries, commissioned a poll that found 80% of Santa Clara County residents opposed to the measure.

-- Karen Kaplan

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/04/fast-food-toy-ban-santa-clara-county.html

Think this is a good idea or has the county government gone too far?

I just think it is really strange...

if i order a happymeal there better be a toy in it. thats all im saying

It's not so bad. If they still want to lure kids to buy their meals, they'll lower the bad crap in their food. They will, too. They'd lose a crap ton of money from sponsors and film deals.

I don't blame the food I blame the bad parents for not making their kids go outside and play. They let them sit in front of the tv or play video games when they should make them go do something outside.

I think it's a good idea, McDonalds puts the toys in happy meals for a reason... They attract kids A LOT to their unhealthy food because of these toys. I took a media studies course once and studied McDonalds market ploys and you'd be surprised how effective the toys are. And in a county where you have 1/4 kids obese then hopefully this ban will solve some part of the problem. I think this is a good incentive and really should be done regardless of whether or not Toys should be included. And of course the CA restaurant association would be angered, fast food restaurants generate so much more money because of these small plastic toys.

Not only that, but the toy is over priced once you think of it. A Happy meal is three or four things from the dollar menu right? The last time i looks at a happy meal price it was 7.50 plus tax (although that was in the city) so that toy is worth 4 to 5 dollars, and face it you know they are only worth about fifty cents.

They're taking away the toys from happy meals? SON OF A---!!!

How will I complete my cheap plastic movie toy collection now!?

lol jk

I just swing through the drive-thru and buy just the toys for the kids. Cheaper than the meal and they don't get all the sugar, salt, and crap that goes along with the food.

**** paternalism.

To expound, is it within the government's authority to look after the best interests of society? What about personal liberties? Just read John Stuart Mill's On Liberty for a few ideas that really resonate with this particular issue.

**** paternalism.

To expound, is it within the government's authority to look after the best interests of society? What about personal liberties? Just read John Stuart Mill's On Liberty for a few ideas that really resonate with this particular issue.

Yea the whole situation is bullshit. People actually buy it too and think it's for their own good.