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Calif. County Moves to Ban Happy Meal Toys

First-of-its-kind ban aimed at tackling child obesity

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 27, 2010 1:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – California's Santa Clara may soon be the first place in America to ban the little toys that come with McDonald's' Happy Meals and other fast-food promotions. County officials say the move—which would outlaw free toys with any meal that has over 485 calories or high levels of salt, sugar, and fat—would go a long way towards tackling child obesity, although the proposal has met fierce opposition from the restaurant industry.

"People ask why I want to take toys out of the hands of children," the president of the county's board of supervisors tells the Los Angeles Times. "But we now know that 70% of the kids that are overweight or obese will be overweight or obese as adults. Why would we want to burden anybody with a lifetime of chronic illness?"

Fast food companies spent $360 million in 2006 on the toys included with kids' meals.
Fast food companies spent $360 million in 2006 on the toys included with kids' meals.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 41 comments
danwinters
Apr 27, 2010 4:09 PM CDT
this has to be the most completely insane thing iv heard of. ok you idiots running the show in c.c.county,if you really think taking the toys away will make these fat bi%&^&*s quit feeding their kids b.s go ahead.do it .yr just plain stupid .we live with fat and obese because of pure laziness,not eating right and a long family history of overweight.try making the fat moms and dads who dont cook at home run around the block before they can order .that will work .f$^^%%in idiot over there. ill bet soon it will be a hate crime to say fat bitch to someone so i want to get it out of me .
Eleutherius
Apr 27, 2010 3:44 PM CDT
Yeah, and I'm sure they have mountains of evidence that the toys are what causes people to eat poorly. California is insane.
HANKHILL
Apr 27, 2010 1:48 PM CDT
I LOVE LOVE LOVE HAPPY MEALS AND ALL THE FUN TOYS. THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO GO ABOUT SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. ON E WAY TO DO IT IS TO HAVE MOM STOP BUYING ME A HAPPY MEAL(FAT CHANCE OF THAT) EDUKATION IS ALSO VERY IMPRTENT AT A YOUNG AGE I AM 6 AND MOM IS TEACHIN ME HOW TO EAT SMART I DONT LIKE SMART I WANT MY TOY SO THERE
 

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