Happy 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.
Stop this ban. WE need to unite.
Happy Meals do not make our kids fat. Ken yeager had no right to take away this from our kids. We as parents have the right to say what they eat and what not to eat. I take my grand kids once or twice a month. I order healthy food for them. They do not drink soda, or eat foods that are not healthy. So Ken who are you to take this small treat away from our chidren. Did you ask us what we as parent have to say about the Happy Meals.You are so wrong to do this. Hope more of us can come together. To try to stop this ban.