Toys in fast food meals limited by Happy Meal Ban

San Francisco's “Happy Meal Ban” has been passed. At first, the measure was introduced in October, but the vote was today. This San Francisco measure limits which meals can consist of a free toy. San Francisco isn’t the first place to enact a Ban like this. In Santa Clara County, a comparable Ban had been passed a few months ago.

Happy Meal Ban only occurs due to high-fat

The San Francisco's board of supervisors passed the "Happy Meal Ban" on Tues. They were thinking about the nutritional content of a meal when doing this. Toys won't be allowed in certain meals at restaurants. In order to offer a toy, a meal must have 600 calories or fewer total, such as the drink. Less than 35 percent of the calories within the meal can come from fat, also. Finally, a meal must include a half of a cup of vegetables. In short, in order to offer a free toy, a restaurant has to have a meal that follows basic good nutrition.

Meals are nevertheless allowed with the Happy Meal Ban

Though the Healthy Meal Incentive legislation is being called the “Happy Meal Ban,” that is a misnomer. There is just one thing that is involved within the Healthy Meal Incentive. Meals with high fat and high sugar can’t have a toy offered with them. The sides of the debate are very clear. The line is seen by many. Some say banning the toys is removing consumer choice and an anti-business move. Many say educating parents on giving their children better nutrition is a better route instead of making legislation to force it. There was a large majority that passed the city legislation though.

Healthy Meal Incentive Act carrying out a trend

Controlling what cities eat had been done before the Healthy Meal Motivation legislation. Trans-fats in restaurants were banned in The Big Apple City in 2006. After that ban was passed, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Burger King, Arby’s, Applebee’s, Cheesecake Factory and thousands of other restaurants quit using trans fats. Even Crisco shortening has been reformulated to eliminate trans fats. Is the Healthy Meal Incentive Act another optimistic step in limiting the food we eat, or do you think these bans should themselves be banned?

Details from

BanTransFats.com

bantransfats.com/transfatnews.html

LA Times

articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/28/business/la-fi-happy-meals-20100428