Happy Meal banHappy Meals are disappearing in Santa Clara County, California but don’t blame the Hamburglar.

The county’s Board of Supervisors has passed an ordinance (3-2) that bans the kid-friendly meals.

Supervisor Ken Yeager accuses fast-food restaurants of preying on children’s love of toys to sell unhealthy food. “Why would a kid say ‘I want a burger with fries’? It’s the toys that they want,” said Yeager.

The ban would only affect unincorporated parts of the county but Yeager hopes the law will have a ripple effect similar to when the county required menu labeling for fast-food restaurants, which later became state law.

The law will go into effect May 11, but fast-food restaurants will have a 90 day grace period to come up with voluntary measures.

Only meals that meet strict nutritional guidelines will be allowed to offer toys.

Nutritional Restrictions:

  • No more than 485 calories for a meal, or 200 calories for a single food item, no more than 120 calories for a drink.
  • No more than 600 mg of sodium for a meal, or 480 mg for a single food item.
  • No more than 35 percent of calories from fat.
  • No more than 10 percent of calories from added sweeteners.