San Francisco does it again:

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LAW CURBS McDONALD'S HAPPY MEAL TOYS

By Lisa Baertlein – Wed Nov 3, 2:38 pm ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – San Francisco has become 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 Tuesday on a veto-proof 8-to-3 vote. It takes effect on December 1.

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.

Fifteen percent of American children are overweight or obese -- which puts them at risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some states, the childhood obesity rate is over 30 percent.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest this summer threatened to sue McDonald's if it did not stop using Happy Meal toys to lure children into its restaurants. A lawyer for that group said it is on track to file the lawsuit in the next several weeks.

McDonald's debuted the Happy Meal in the United States in 1979 with toys like the "McDoodler" stencil and the "McWrist" wallet. Modern offerings have included themed items from popular films like "Shrek" or sought-after toys like Transformers, Legos or miniature Ty Beanie Babies.

In 2006, the latest year for which data is available, fast-food companies led by McDonald's spent more than $520 million on advertising and toys to promote meals for children, according to a U.S. Federal Trade Commission report.

When the efforts of other food and beverage companies were included, promotional spending aimed at children topped $1.6 billion.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein; Editing by Richard Chang)

Well at least Nancy lost her gavel job & now has to return to her former day job...

"Getting a toy with a kid's meal is just one part of a fun, family experience at McDonald's," Proud said.

  At first I had some sympathy. Then I saw their rep couldn't resist to nestle a crap corporate slogan into her answer.

"...are now taking away Happy Meals."

Not quite. It's the toys they're "taking away", and then only with a proviso.

They're helping curb an insidious marketing tool that targets children and encourages them to stuff themselves with unhealthy food.

I would say that is a good thing.

Same as here in NZ where there is a ban on tobacco advertising.

Marketers can manipulate significant parts of any popultion, with no thought to the social consequences, only the bottom line profits.

agreed, better to throw out the crappy meals instead

Two things:

McDonald's never claims that their food is healthy.

If a kid is getting too much McDonald's food it's more of a parenting issue than anything. If they are getting a lot of this kind of food then they probably get crap food at home too.

Of course there's more votes in taking potshots at big companies than there is educating people about their kid's nutrition.

Two things:

McDonald's never claims that their food is healthy.

If a kid is getting too much McDonald's food it's more of a parenting issue than anything. If they are getting a lot of this kind of food then they probably get crap food at home too.

Of course there's more votes in taking potshots at big companies than there is educating people about their kid's nutrition.

Well said.

Don't forget. From now on it's the Republicans fault.

Don't forget. From now on it's the Republicans fault.

Not quite yet, Shotime.

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Good post, cdnvic.

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It appears some people don't understand Tongue-in-cheek humor.

Two things:

McDonald's never claims that their food is healthy.

If a kid is getting too much McDonald's food it's more of a parenting issue than anything. If they are getting a lot of this kind of food then they probably get crap food at home too.

Of course there's more votes in taking potshots at big companies than there is educating people about their kid's nutrition.

Well said.

I concur.

I must admit, I am a little prone to the occasional McChicken Burger or the breakfast bun. However, I always sneak in a visit to Macs when I am on my own and have never let my little girl visit a Macs. I know resistence is futile and she will eventually go once she hears her friends go but I will try and resist for as long as possible.

I am old enough to make my own irresponsible decisions that can affect my health but I don't want to be responsible for making irresponsible decisions about my daughters health. She can make them herself when she is old enough.

Two things:

McDonald's never claims that their food is healthy.

If a kid is getting too much McDonald's food it's more of a parenting issue than anything. If they are getting a lot of this kind of food then they probably get crap food at home too.

Of course there's more votes in taking potshots at big companies than there is educating people about their kid's nutrition.

The British American Tobacco Company do not claim that their product is healthy either......yet many would agree that if they targetted children in their marketing, it would be a bad thing.

I agree that there are certainly parenting issues. The reality of Western life, though, is that children CAN and will apply pressure to parents. Many parents are not equipped, or bothered, to resist that pressure, so when a company (whose product is not particularly healthy) that deliberately targets children, does target children......surely an enforced restriction is a good thing?

Don't forget. From now on it's the Republicans fault.

Not quite yet, Shotime.

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Good post, cdnvic.

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It appears some people don't understand Tongue-in-cheek humor.

Please expalin to the humourless amongst us where the humour was? The reference to San Francisco (which was your only contribution beside the article)?I confess, I didn't get it.

The article itself was tongue in cheek? I didn't read that either.

Or have you changed your mind since posting, actually see that the ban could be a good thing, and are now trying to pass it off as a joke?

Remember that show called super size me?

With Morgan Spurlock that independent film guy.

Where he ate nothing but micky D food for a month.

Anyway.....pretty good show albeit extreme & in it he did talk a lot about

McDonalds targeting kids which I guess is no different than most advertising.

but yes he does make a good point of it with not just the toys but the playgrounds built into the restaurants

also the birthday party facilities & of course the clown & characters all appeal to the kids.

But yes the final resting place of responsibility is the parents in my opinion.

The world of over regulation is a slippery slope.

Remember that show called super size me?

With Morgan Spurlock that independent film guy.

Where he ate nothing but micky D food for a month.

Anyway.....pretty good show albeit extreme & in it he did talk a lot about

McDonalds targeting kids which I guess is no different than most advertising.

but yes he does make a good point of it with not just the toys but the playgrounds built into the restaurants

also the birthday party facilities & of course the clown & characters all appeal to the kids.

But yes the final resting place of responsibility is the parents in my opinion.

The world of over regulation is a slippery slope.

I agree that the world of over-regulation is a slippery slope.

Where on that slope would you place marketing aimed at children....From alcohol companies? From tobacco companies? From film and computer game censors? From a company whose product is demonstrably a contributor to child obesity?

Super Size Me was load of crap. He stopped exercising and purposely stuffed himself instead of just eating when he was hungry. Several people have replicated the experiment while only eating normally - when they were hungry - and exercising as normal. they actually lost weight.

I agree that the world of over-regulation is a slippery slope.

Where on that slope would you place marketing aimed at children....From alcohol companies? From tobacco companies? From film and computer game censors? From a company whose product is demonstrably a contributor to child obesity?

Well it is tough I will say that.

I was a single parent & raised two kids on my own.

It is easy to say it is a parents responsibility & yes it is but....

They do get bombarded & yes I could turn off the TV but they still get it in other ways.

Also you do not want to feel like your denying them things their friends all talk about.

In the end I was lucky as I always lived in the country so even though my kids knew about such things

it was not easy to get it. So yes we indulged once in awhile.

But I see what your saying & while folks would not stand for cigarette companies targeting kids they let these other poisons go full attack. But in the end freedom is a double edged sword eh?

I know for a fact that food is crap & anyone who thinks it is ok to eat there daily or even multi times a week is nuts or a fat guy on a bike pretending to exercise

That guy who did that show supersize me only ate 3 meals a day there & only supersized 5 times for the month as his rule was to only super size if asked.

Then lived his life the same as he was before.

The food is 100% crap ..fat & sugar & basically was killing him as his liver was failing along with his kidneys by the time he was done.

That was a crazy stunt though & anyone could have told him it was going to end badly

Super Size Me was load of crap. He stopped exercising and purposely stuffed himself instead of just eating when he was hungry. Several people have replicated the experiment while only eating normally - when they were hungry - and exercising as normal. they actually lost weight.

You're right in a way....but that was the point of it; "Super size me"; McD's pushing everyone to have more than what they actually felt they wanted. "Would you like to upsize that for only 50c?"

The "Upsize" tool (and tool it was) was designed to make people think that they were getting more for less.....even though they didn't need more....effectively it was McD's stuffing the customers with food they didn't need.

You are correct also that people that only eat (McD's) only when they are hungry, and continue to excersise, may lose weight......but it is an unhealthy loss, because it is not a balanced diet.

Don't forget. From now on it's the Republicans fault.

Not quite yet, Shotime.

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Good post, cdnvic.

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It appears some people don't understand Tongue-in-cheek humor.

Please expalin to the humourless amongst us where the humour was? The reference to San Francisco (which was your only contribution beside the article)?I confess, I didn't get it.

The article itself was tongue in cheek? I didn't read that either.

Or have you changed your mind since posting, actually see that the ban could be a good thing, and are now trying to pass it off as a joke?

Why must everything turn into an argument with you?

I refuse to get into a silly word game with you today.

The reality of Western life, though, is that children CAN and will apply pressure to parents. Many parents are not equipped, or bothered, to resist that pressure

I was going to suggest that if they couldn't resist pressure to do things they don't want to then they shouldn't be parents, but that's probably how many of them became parents in the first place so nevermind....

McD's pushing everyone to have more than what they actually felt they wanted.

Most restaurants ask if you would like something more. If one is too thick to say no, they should not blame the restaurant.

Super Size Me was load of crap. He stopped exercising and purposely stuffed himself instead of just eating when he was hungry. Several people have replicated the experiment while only eating normally - when they were hungry - and exercising as normal. they actually lost weight.

I watched it and remember thinking the same thing - what a load of crap. You don't have to have a super-sized Big Mac Meal all the time. Nothing wrong with their breakfast. Nothing wrong with having the salads. But then, he wouldn't have a movie then, would he?

The reality of Western life, though, is that children CAN and will apply pressure to parents. Many parents are not equipped, or bothered, to resist that pressure

I was going to suggest that if they couldn't resist pressure to do things they don't want to then they shouldn't be parents, but that's probably how many of them became parents in the first place so nevermind....

Well said. That's two in a row now.

McD's pushing everyone to have more than what they actually felt they wanted.

Most restaurants ask if you would like something more. If one is too thick to say no, they should not blame the restaurant.

This is one of the fundamental differences between liberals and conservatives. Liberals want more regulations because they think the government can make better decisions for them. Conservatives believe people should be able to make their own decisions. Often the best way is in the middle somewhere.

McD's pushing everyone to have more than what they actually felt they wanted.

Most restaurants ask if you would like something more. If one is too thick to say no, they should not blame the restaurant.

you didn't say no too often i assume?

I would assume that you did not say no at all.

I watched it and remember thinking the same thing - what a load of crap. You don't have to have a super-sized Big Mac Meal all the time. Nothing wrong with their breakfast. Nothing wrong with having the salads. But then, he wouldn't have a movie then, would he?

I actually just saw it for the first time a few weeks ago on my computer.

It is on Netflix

But he only supersized 5 times for the month. Most of which was offered in Texas.

He had some rule where he would supersize if asked.

For sure it was sensationalism & that is what his shows are. He went on to do various jobs

for 30 days each. A series on one TV channel which I dont remember.

As for the salads they are as bad or worse. I forget how much sugar & fat was in the bacon chicken ranch one but it was insane. Like 50% FAT

I would assume that you did not say no at all.

wonder who has the bigger waistline of you two?

when i came to Thailand 6 years ago, I lost 10 kilos in about 3 months, and have kept it off since. I put it down to a change in diet and heat suppressing my appetite, and drinking more fluids. I basically gave up most western fast foods, only having it on occassionally. Some guys go the other way and put on weight here.

Isn't being anonymous on the INTERNET great. You can claim absolutely anything you want. I used to be the vice-president of Microsoft myself.

Don't forget. From now on it's the Republicans fault.

Not quite yet, Shotime.

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Good post, cdnvic.

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It appears some people don't understand Tongue-in-cheek humor.

I thought my remark was tongue-in-cheek

Who would eat that kangeroo meat anyway?

wonder who has the bigger waistline of you two?

when i came to Thailand 6 years ago, I lost 10 kilos in about 3 months, and have kept it off since. I put it down to a change in diet and heat suppressing my appetite, and drinking more fluids. I basically gave up most western fast foods, only having it on occassionally. Some guys go the other way and put on weight here.

I lost weight there but only after I stopped drinking beer.