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Lawmakers want to ban happy meal toys to curb obesity in California

Happy meal toys
Happy meal toys
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The ink hasn’t even dried on the new trillion-dollar entitlement health care bill and already lawmakers are gearing up with new legislation to curb societies ills. One lawmaker in California is moving to have toys banned in fast food happy meals.

The proposed law comes from Santa Clara Board of Supervisor, Ken Yeager. “Fast food restaurants spend hundreds of millions of dollars per year to tempt children into eating unhealthy,” he said.

Yeager points to the one in three children in California who are obese as the reason to regulate restaurants and hopefully guide parents to make better decisions about nutritious meals for kids.

"We're finding out more and more that if you're obese as a child, you're going to have health problems your entire life," said Yeager. "Ten out of 12 meals that are associated with the promotional toys are the high-caloric, high-fat and high-sodium meals.”

In other words, we know what’s best for your children. Because one third of children in California are pudgy, two-thirds will have to pay the price, according to Yeager. Most parents choose fast food because it’s a treat or cheaper and the toy is just a bonus, says Maggie Thompson a parent of two children.

Supervisor Yeager says his public health ordinance banning fast-food toy incentives may draw a challenge from the California Restaurant Association, but that it would legally fall under the health and safety codes.


However, Jot Condie, the CEO of the California Restaurant Association says this new proposed ban on toys is overreaching. “When the state is operating in the red are they really going to take on another legal challenge? This is ultimately a parent’s decision.”


If this legislation passes, it would be the first time in the nation that lawmakers regulate how restaurants package meals geared toward children. The Santa Clara board will vote on the ordinance next month.


For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/x-10317-San-Diego-County-Political-Buzz-Examiner

 

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, San Diego County Political Buzz Examiner

Kimberly Dvorak is a freelance writer who resides in San Diego. She has covered local, national and international news stories for more than 15 years. She is looking to write fair and balanced stories Americans want to read. Email Kimberly.

Comments

  • Sondra 2 years ago

    Apparently only the government knows how to raise my children-I can't make any decisions on my own they must do it for me!!! I am so tired of this - they think they know best on everything and gradually want to take my rights as a parent away. Seriously- is this what we are becoming - a government run society where what they say goes...forget about what I think is best.

  • Pissed off American 2 years ago

    BUY AMMO NOW. YOU'LL NEED IT SOON!

    BARACK HITLER OBAMA AND HIS BOYS THINK THEY CAN TAKE THIS COUNTRY. OH REALLY?

  • Larry 2 years ago

    There ya go;
    Ban the toys, and interfere with the free-market...
    AND KEEP THE POISON FOOD!
    I'd rather see the lawmakers ban the unhealthy, nutrition-less, obesity-causing, processed food entering the market, than regulate the sale of "toys".
    But they would lose campaign funds or perks and we can't have that.
    Thank you for this article.

  • Smart Mom in SD 2 years ago

    I don't need the government to tell me how to feed my children. If kids want a cheap treat we go through the drive thru and boy the toy without the food. There are more options in America than passing uncessary laws.

  • Angry Student 2 years ago

    Hey California! Instead of coming up with these stupid laws like "No Cussing Week" in March and Banning Happy Meal Toys...How about Funding our Education Systems!!!

  • but out gov 2 years ago

    i just became a dad to my first son. you mr. cal it is my right asa dad to give my kid what i want and what he need. you dont know what my kid want or needs. you also dont know what best for my kids. my parents ran the mcdaolds on bozeman mt and i not fat i never have been i waight 132 pounds and i waighed 112 trourgh high school i am 19 now. so you mr. cal can read this and i will tell you it my right to let my kid and eat and play with what i and he wants not your and you dont know what best for my kids

  • charlinbox 2 years ago

    Thanks cali every time you start some stupid ban it eventually ends up on the east coast as well. I will say it again stupid people shouldn't breed. Most of the obese kids come from parents who are incapable of taking care of themselfs. The state of mass wants to ban the word retard. If you have ever been to boston you know thats part of our "wicked retahhded" accent. Kiss your freedoms goodbye. I urge all true americans to take their american flag and fly it upside down. This country is in distress.

  • Enlightened 2 years ago

    The people doing these "studies" and legislating against We The People and the people who benefit are nothing but ORGANIZED CRIME! Big pharma money is ALWAYS behind this, it's right on the RWJF (aka Johnson & Johnson) website, they make Splenda and own the market on bariatric surgery. I see now they are banning school bake sales somewhere. What ever happened to Free To Be, You And Me? They have also begun removing overweight kids from loving homes. Why isn't every parent saying enough is enough! These thugs should be thrown in a gulag. It's like living in a horror flick and it needs to stop!

  • Enlightened 2 years ago

    The people doing these "studies" and legislating against We The People and the people who benefit are nothing but ORGANIZED CRIME! Big pharma money is ALWAYS behind this, it's right on the RWJF (aka Johnson & Johnson) website, they make Splenda and own the market on bariatric surgery. I see now they are banning school bake sales somewhere. What ever happened to Free To Be, You And Me? They have also begun removing overweight kids from loving homes. Why isn't every parent saying enough is enough! These thugs should be thrown in a gulag. It's like living in a horror flick and it needs to stop!

  • See You in Searchlight 2 years ago

    Enlightened: Good comment(s). Any ideas on how to wake the slumbering mASSES?

  • American Lady 2 years ago

    I guess the parents who buy their kids the happy meals are no longer to blame for their fat kids and their fat lifestyle? So glad I can stop thinking for myself now.

  • Nancy 2 years ago

    This is getting ridiculous. Telling us to buy health insurance or we pay a fine. Taking toys away from kids in order to solve obesity. Next thing you know McDonald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Dunkin Donuts, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Tim Horton's, etc. will all be out of business and there will be thousands more people unemployed. Our children are becoming obese because they can't go outside and play because there are too many insane sex offenders living next door. Why don't they get rid of them so our children can be free to ride their bikes and walk to school without getting murdered. They tell us to stop drinking and smoking because it's unhealthy, but if we did quit they would really lose money. So I doubt they will push very hard to take away those freedoms. They will pick on our kids instead! How the heck do they think they can control everyone's eating habits? Looks like it's time to take back our freedoms and do it real soon for the future of our children.

  • challey 2 years ago

    another fact that this is not a free country they just get rid of anything they want its retarted

  • Enlightened 2 years ago

    Johnson & Johnson's lobbying arm The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation began this whole thing by targeting smokers first because it was pretty easy to demonize that population. Now that they have financed legislation everywhere with bans and tax increases of 2,400% they can go after overweight people and demonize them. They do this for profit. They own the market with their own brand of nicotine in the form of extremely addicting gums (worse than tobacco) and patches. Everyone needs to contact their Congressmen and Senators to pull the plug on big pharma and their marketing scam. Our children are always targeted first because we surely don't want to do anything to harm the kiddies! That's how they get the public behind the CREATED crises the pushes the 'need' for their products. This brilliant marketing scam can only be stopped by US!

  • Enlightened 2 years ago

    Johnson & Johnson's lobbying arm The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation began this whole thing by targeting smokers first because it was pretty easy to demonize that population. Now that they have financed legislation everywhere with bans and tax increases of 2,400% they can go after overweight people and demonize them. They do this for profit. They own the market with their own brand of nicotine in the form of extremely addicting gums (worse than tobacco) and patches. Everyone needs to contact their Congressmen and Senators to pull the plug on big pharma and their marketing scam. Our children are always targeted first because we surely don't want to do anything to harm the kiddies! That's how they get the public behind the CREATED crises the pushes the 'need' for their products. This brilliant marketing scam can only be stopped by US!

  • Sarah.Palin 2 years ago

    but out gov says:
    i just became a dad to my first son. you mr. cal it is my right asa dad to give my kid what i want and what he need. you dont know what my kid want or needs. you also dont know what best for my kids. my parents ran the mcdaolds on bozeman mt and i not fat i never have been i waight 132 pounds and i waighed 112 trourgh high school i am 19 now. so you mr. cal can read this and i will tell you it my right to let my kid and eat and play with what i and he wants not your and you dont know what best for my kids"

    You're a 19 year old dad who can't speak English correctly. I'd say your parents screwed up somewhere, and maybe you would've been better off with a little more government input in your school system. Have fun flipping burgers.

  • Sarah.Palin 2 years ago

    I wish you bunch of inbreds would see that the government is not out to get you, that not every bill about toys in fast food meals is an assault on your personal freedom. If you want to, by all means, feed your kids to death. But the government is trying to look out for the health of our nation's youth, which is a noble endeavor. Don't say it's trying to take away your rights as a parent. It isn't. It's picking up where irresponsible people like you leave off, namely educating and making sure your kids are healthy. And remember, this government is fairly elected by the people. Which means that they are pushing the agenda that the majority of America supports. Which means you are probably in the conservative minority. If America wanted what you want, they'd have elected a Republican. Looks like they didn't.

    PS- all of you retards who think america is a tyrrany, and that Obama is Hitler, go live somewhere where there isn't democracy. Maybe then you'll learn to appreciate it.

  • dorothy 2 years ago

    IT SEEMS THE USA IS NOT REALLY FREE ANYMORE..WHAT A SHAME OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMAN ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM WHEN HERE AT HOME THE SAME GOVERNMENT WANTS TO TAKE OUR FREEDOMS.COME ON THE ONLY FAT IS IN WASHINGTON

  • Responsible Parent 2 years ago

    I am a parent of two young adults. Both of them are slim and healthy. My husband and I were in charge of feeding them and providing a healthy lifestyle. Yes, they ate a Happy Meal now and then. It's parents job to teach moderation and choice making skills; not the governments. Leave parenting and Happy Meals alone.

  • mom 2 years ago

    When my son was small, I fed him nutritiously and as a TREAT
    he was permitted to have a Happy Meal. Happy meal is not for the parent who is too bothered to cook and doesn't discipline their own kids to eat well, or prepare them good food....Happy Meal is something special for a special occasion and the toys are a great bonus to make it fun. Why do politicians always think everybody is a sinister person trying to get kids fat? It is the PARENT who is sinister if they dont take personal responsibility for their own spending on treats rather than preparing meals at home. This is not fair to end something that makes if fun for the parent and children due to irresponsible undereducated or lazy people who dont want to cook and dont know how to just say no to their kids. What about the rest of us who enjoy the idea and benefit from it??

  • Anonymous 2 years ago

    I'm gonna start selling new and even old McDonald's Happy Meal toys to kids at parks for as low as a nickel just to cheese off police and FBI. For anybody who wants to follow me, SPREAD THE WORD!!

  • WPALMER 2 years ago

    I THINK THAT'S STUPID! WHY SHOULD HAPY MEALS BE BANNED??? I ATE HAPPY MEALS GROWING UP AND I AM IN PERFECT SHAPE! NOW MY PARENTS DIDN'T GET IT FOR ME EVERY SINGLE DAY BUT IT WAS A GREAT TREAT WHEN I GOT IT ONCE OR 3 TIMES A MONTH! IT IS THE PARENTS WHO DECIDE WHAT THEIR CHILDREN EATS AND IF THEY CHOOSE TO GET THEIR CHILDREN MCDONALDS EVERY DAY CAUSING THEIR CHILD TO BE OBESE THEN THE PARENTS SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN MISTAKES! SAME AS ADULTS! THEY SHOULDN'T BLAME FAST FOOD FOR THE REASONS WHY THEY ARE OBESE BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR CHOICE TO BUY THE FOOD!!!

  • alayne 2 years ago

    ARE YOU KIDDING ME???!!!! I just watched an interview on O'Riley with MeMe Roth some pinhead from California of course. Her reasoning behind the ban on Happy Meal Toys is reducing the "Nag" factor for parents. ARE YOU FRICKING KIDDING ME?????? What a whinner! My 10 yr old has eaten happy meals and still does if I give him the chance but guess what??? I DECIDE WHEN!!!!! Please...all you lazy parents out there who are AFRAID to tell your kids NO...get a life!!!!

  • CD 2 years ago

    McDonalds should replace the Happy Meal toys with two chocolate chip cookies!

  • American mom 2 years ago

    It's really sad that people really believe it is right for the government to make decisions for us and then they decide in their "bravery" to hide with a name like Sarah Palin.... Hmmmnn!!
    Do free thinkers make you a little angry? :( If you're so sure of your voting choices, why are you so hostile? It seems you think you have all the answers, but maybe not, because you seem awfully threatened by us conservatives. Do we make you nervous? ... :)By the way, it was our freedom fighting forefathers who gave you the right to even speak your uninformed insults to others. Read your history.We have a right to speak out just like you! If you don't like it, why don't you leave the country?!

  • jaymzjoyce 1 year ago

    Has everyone lost their minds??? Our law-maker who is proposing this...down to every individual parent who can't think for themselves!!!JUST SAY NO!!!...If you don't want your child to have it...DON'T BUY IT!!!...It's too simple!!!

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