San Francisco says No to Happy Meals
San Francisco has become the first major city in the country to ban restaurants from giving out free toys with meals that contain more than a certain amount of calories, sugar, and fat. The ordinance, passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in an effort to help combat childhood obesity, also requires that restaurants provide fruit and vegetables with all childrens meals that come with toys.
Under the measure, restaurants can include a free toy with a meal if the meal (consisting of food and a drink) contains fewer than 600 calories, and if less than 35% of the calories come from fat.
The ordinance, which is similar to a measure passed in Santa Clara County, CA, goes into effect December, 2011.