November 4, 2010

San Francisco's Ban On Happy Meal Toys

So the City of San Francisco has decided to ban McDonald's and other privately owned restaurants from giving away toys with any meal that is high in calories, sugar, and fat (See the LA Times article here). They also voted to require fruits and vegetables to be included with any kids meals served with a toy. Here is what one of the Board members had to say in the LA Times...

"We're part of a movement that is moving forward an agenda of food justice," said Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure. "From San Francisco to New York City, the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country is making our kids sick, particularly kids from low income neighborhoods, at an alarming rate. It's a survival issue and a day-to-day issue."

Really? A survival issue? Sounds to me more like another attempt to hold private businesses accountable for bad parenting. New flash! It is not the responsibility of government to police the eating habits of our children. This responsibility falls to parents. McDonald's offers healthy alternatives with all of its meals. If parents choose not to provide their children with these healthy alternatives, then they are to blame, not McDonald's.

McDonald's should pull all of the franchise rights within the city limits of San Francisco. Let's see if the public supports this ridiculous ban then.

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