Happy Meal Ban bans the playthings in fast food meals

Bay Area has passed what is being called the Happy Meal Ban. Rather than limiting food, the Healthy Meal Incentive act targets the toys. Only certain kid’s meals will be integrated in the list of what can contain toys. Santa Clara County has enacted a comparable Happy Meal Ban, despite heavy lobbying of a number of restaurant associations.

High fat in Happy Meals causes Ban

The nutrition content of a meal is what the San Francisco's board of supervisors were thinking about Tuesday when passing the "Happy Meal Ban". Toys will not be allowed in certain meals at restaurants. A meal has to have less than 600 calories, such as the drink, if a company wants to offer a toy. The calories from fat are limited to 35 in the meal. A half cup of vegetables are required in the meal as well. Restaurants will not be able to give a free toy to children unless the meal is healthy. That is the only way to do it.

You can nevertheless eat whichever you would like 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 Motivation. Meals with high fat and high sugar cannot have a toy offered with them. The sides of the debate are very clear. The line is seen by many. The toy being removed from the meal is a bad thing for business some say. It makes consumer choice impossible. Others argue that parents who can’t say no to their kids and help their kids make good nutritional choices need education, not legislation. It does not actually matter though. A huge majority passed the legislation.

Pursuing in other's footsteps with the Healthy Meal Incentive Act

The Healthy Meal Motivation legislation was not the first of its kind. Cities have tried to control what is eaten before. NY City made a Ban in 2006. This made it so restaurants could not have any trans-fats. All of the restaurants were required to lose all trans-fats. These integrated McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dunkin donuts, Burger King, Arby's, Applebee's, Cheesecake Factory and many others. There aren't any trans-fats in Crisco shortening either. Do you think there should not be bans like this, or will the Healthy Meal Incentive Act be a good thing for limiting the food we eat?

Articles cited

BanTransFats.com

bantransfats.com/transfatnews.html

LA Times

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