NOVEMBER 3, 2010
San Francisco has banned the Happy Meal, on the day of the return of the McRib no less. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors earlier today passed an ordinance requiring meals that included toys with their purchase to meet specific nutritional guidelines. The vote, achieved with a Gavin Newsom veto-proof majority of 8-3, effectively bans the Happy Meal.
Joe Eskenazi at the San Francisco Weekly reports:
?It seems the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has accomplished what the Hamburglar never could. They've made off with McDonald's fare.
The supes today passed an ordinance that will require meals to meet nutritional guidelines if restaurants wish to include a toy with the food purchase.
More importantly, the supes passed the so-called "Happy Meal Ban" by an 8-3 vote -- meaning it can survive a promised veto from Mayor Gavin Newsom. That's right: San Francisco done banned the Happy Meal. Robble robble.
The AP reports:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- For some veggies-hating children, Happy Meals won't be so happy anymore.
San Francisco lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday that would limit toy giveaways in children's meals that have excessive calories, sodium and fat. It also requires servings of fruits or vegetables with each meal.
The city's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the ordinance, which they hope will force fast-food chains such as McDonald's to make their children's meals healthier or stop selling them with toys.
The measure drew enough support to overcome an expected veto by Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Supervisors say the law would make San Francisco the first major city to take this action to combat childhood obesity.
McDonald's has said the law threatens business and restricts parents' ability to make choices for their children.
UPDATE, 11/3/10:
McDonald's could, theoretically, reformulate the Happy Meal for San Francisco to allow it to be sold. Here are the ordinance's specific requirements for a packaged fast food meal targeted at children:
Calories: Less than 600
Sodium: Less than 640 milligram.
Fat: Less than 35 percent of calories from fat; Less than 10 percent from saturated fat (with exception for nuts, seeds, eggs or low-fat cheese).
Fruits & Vegetables: At least half a cup of fruit or three-quarters of a cup of vegetables
I fucking hate these stupid nanny state laws. I hate them when Bloomberg pushes them in NYC and I hate this one too. Christ why don't we just adopt the metric system, parliamentary government and 32 hour work weeks with six weeks off in the summer and get it over with.
San Francisco has banned the Happy Meal, on the day of the return of the McRib no less. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors earlier today passed an ordinance requiring meals that included toys with their purchase to meet specific nutritional guidelines. The vote, achieved with a Gavin Newsom veto-proof majority of 8-3, effectively bans the Happy Meal.
Joe Eskenazi at the San Francisco Weekly reports:
?It seems the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has accomplished what the Hamburglar never could. They've made off with McDonald's fare.
The supes today passed an ordinance that will require meals to meet nutritional guidelines if restaurants wish to include a toy with the food purchase.
More importantly, the supes passed the so-called "Happy Meal Ban" by an 8-3 vote -- meaning it can survive a promised veto from Mayor Gavin Newsom. That's right: San Francisco done banned the Happy Meal. Robble robble.
The AP reports:
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- For some veggies-hating children, Happy Meals won't be so happy anymore.
San Francisco lawmakers approved legislation Tuesday that would limit toy giveaways in children's meals that have excessive calories, sodium and fat. It also requires servings of fruits or vegetables with each meal.
The city's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the ordinance, which they hope will force fast-food chains such as McDonald's to make their children's meals healthier or stop selling them with toys.
The measure drew enough support to overcome an expected veto by Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Supervisors say the law would make San Francisco the first major city to take this action to combat childhood obesity.
McDonald's has said the law threatens business and restricts parents' ability to make choices for their children.
UPDATE, 11/3/10:
McDonald's could, theoretically, reformulate the Happy Meal for San Francisco to allow it to be sold. Here are the ordinance's specific requirements for a packaged fast food meal targeted at children:
Calories: Less than 600
Sodium: Less than 640 milligram.
Fat: Less than 35 percent of calories from fat; Less than 10 percent from saturated fat (with exception for nuts, seeds, eggs or low-fat cheese).
Fruits & Vegetables: At least half a cup of fruit or three-quarters of a cup of vegetables
I fucking hate these stupid nanny state laws. I hate them when Bloomberg pushes them in NYC and I hate this one too. Christ why don't we just adopt the metric system, parliamentary government and 32 hour work weeks with six weeks off in the summer and get it over with.
Mook
*MySmiley*
"Bustin' makes me feel good!"
Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker Jr.
*MySmiley*
"Bustin' makes me feel good!"
Ghostbusters, by Ray Parker Jr.
San Francisco Bans The Happy Meal
- 04/11/2010 04:00:12 AM
1793 Views
Is't it nice that we have the Food Gestapo to tell us what we can and can't eat? 
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 04:46:04 AM
437 Views
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 04:46:04 AM
437 Views
It doesn't say anything about what you can and can't eat, it just says you can't be rewarded with
- 04/11/2010 11:25:31 AM
1005 Views
For someone ostensibly obsessed with Germany, you sure enjoy trivializing the Holocaust. 
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 11:56:49 PM
587 Views
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 11:56:49 PM
587 Views
The term has also come to mean an overly authoritarian and repressive organization
- 05/11/2010 05:54:45 AM
1048 Views
now, they only really banned the toy that comes with the happy meal if it doesn't meet guidelines
- 04/11/2010 06:32:46 AM
1160 Views
the government should not have to right to say how I feed my child
- 04/11/2010 01:37:41 PM
973 Views
I find feeding happy meals to children far more appalling.
- 04/11/2010 01:39:13 PM
925 Views
the government limits the kind of advertising your child sees during saturday morning cartoons
- 04/11/2010 03:36:47 PM
845 Views
that isn't even close to the same thing
- 04/11/2010 04:15:09 PM
968 Views
Don't forget the removal of more and more activity.
- 05/11/2010 12:32:03 AM
818 Views
yeah that is why kids are getting fat
- 05/11/2010 04:26:38 AM
869 Views
wow, ever consider that political leanings have nothing to do with my opinion 
- 05/11/2010 11:59:15 AM
1046 Views
- 05/11/2010 11:59:15 AM
1046 Views
your the one who wanted to bring your politics into it
- 05/11/2010 12:23:08 PM
890 Views
uhm, what? I said no such thing.
- 05/11/2010 12:33:22 PM
1036 Views
it is exactly the same thing you're just trying to dance around the issue
- 05/11/2010 06:31:26 AM
1067 Views
saying something does not make it true
- 05/11/2010 12:17:00 PM
1036 Views
*NM*
I wouldn't touch the metric system with a 1.038m pole *NM*
- 04/11/2010 10:47:51 AM
609 Views
The law is just fighting a small symptom of a much bigger problem
- 04/11/2010 11:24:19 AM
1216 Views
yes
- 04/11/2010 11:47:47 AM
1263 Views
But they are confronted with a lot of idiot parents that create a lot of idiot children
- 05/11/2010 08:18:54 AM
963 Views
100% agree, in respect to this and other related subjects.
- 04/11/2010 01:42:32 PM
1099 Views
I don't think the toy is that big of a draw for kids, really.
- 04/11/2010 05:11:10 PM
931 Views
The toys were a definite draw for mine
- 05/11/2010 08:20:05 AM
977 Views
Perhaps
- 05/11/2010 07:41:17 PM
1129 Views
You're using yourself as an example at an age when the effect will be less anyway
- 06/11/2010 07:11:11 AM
840 Views
Not a big fan of that decision, either. As for introducing the metric system: would be past time.
- 04/11/2010 12:01:41 PM
996 Views
- 04/11/2010 12:01:41 PM
996 Views
Here in Aus we have fruit bags, and water etc. options for Happy Meals
- 04/11/2010 12:32:16 PM
948 Views
The healthier variety is starting to become more common in kids meals.
- 04/11/2010 12:50:44 PM
1092 Views
milk or juice have ALWAYS been options, and every mcdonalds i've been to has offered the apples. *NM*
- 04/11/2010 01:36:34 PM
572 Views
Too bad milk and juice are horrible choices too. 
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 10:54:36 PM
606 Views
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 10:54:36 PM
606 Views
uhmm, bullshit.
- 04/11/2010 11:39:09 PM
1086 Views
Juice is nothing but sugar and milk as healthy is debatable.
- 05/11/2010 12:37:34 AM
1086 Views
juice is not just sugar.
- 05/11/2010 02:11:12 AM
1044 Views
Here. not the best source, but assuming the nutritionist's analyzer was correct...
- 05/11/2010 02:24:18 AM
1017 Views
I'm not talking about juicing vegetables and fresh fruit.
- 05/11/2010 03:06:54 AM
1003 Views
no it was not clear. You merely said "Juice"
- 05/11/2010 03:16:01 AM
1072 Views
Milk is delicious. And it (when low-fat/skim) isn't actively bad for you.
- 05/11/2010 03:33:53 AM
856 Views
I know, but...just...EW.
- 05/11/2010 03:43:49 AM
1137 Views
Agreed, as long as it's treated the right way (i.e. not the American way). *NM*
- 05/11/2010 09:56:16 AM
582 Views
*NM*
- 05/11/2010 09:56:16 AM
582 Views
Please elaborate.
- 05/11/2010 01:27:45 PM
1027 Views
I remember the first time I came to Northern America (Canada, then) and tried drinking milk...
- 05/11/2010 04:44:01 PM
1080 Views
You can get UHT milk
- 05/11/2010 04:47:53 PM
918 Views
Yeah, no doubt - you can get most anything in the US, but not necessarily easily.
- 05/11/2010 05:46:59 PM
1070 Views
I live in a big enough city you can get pretty much anything you want
- 05/11/2010 07:02:44 PM
845 Views
How about the water?
- 05/11/2010 06:24:09 PM
884 Views
I remember when I lived in Germany, I found warm, boxed milk to be one of the stranger oddities.
- 05/11/2010 08:57:42 PM
916 Views
so what do you think kids should drink?
- 05/11/2010 04:28:36 AM
1004 Views
Do this little experiment. Please.
- 05/11/2010 12:53:49 PM
884 Views
that is why my kids drinks milk or water and not juice 99% of time
- 05/11/2010 02:03:08 PM
961 Views
Of course!
- 05/11/2010 02:11:35 PM
1075 Views
I am fighting my wife right now over the yogurt in a tube crap
- 05/11/2010 02:35:41 PM
866 Views
Ha! You should do the sugar measuring with her. It'll show her how much is in that 1 little tube. *NM*
- 05/11/2010 04:00:55 PM
434 Views
they have the option but i'm sure that fruit has 1200mg of sodium in it somehow *NM*
- 05/11/2010 06:35:36 AM
611 Views
*NM*
- 05/11/2010 06:35:36 AM
611 Views
I'm going to go set up the black market for happy meals in San Francisco.
- 04/11/2010 01:21:34 PM
1025 Views
so in otherwords...Happy Meals in San Francisco don't come with toys anymore?
- 04/11/2010 01:38:03 PM
859 Views
This is pretty stupid.
- 04/11/2010 02:13:17 PM
1052 Views
That part was a bit of hyperbole, I'm afraid. *NM*
- 04/11/2010 03:01:52 PM
593 Views
*NM*
- 04/11/2010 03:01:52 PM
593 Views
Not very much!
- 04/11/2010 03:04:58 PM
944 Views
I feel so exploited now
- 04/11/2010 03:31:26 PM
1252 Views
*dons detective hat* Very interesting...
- 04/11/2010 03:35:08 PM
859 Views
Re: *dons detective hat* Very interesting...
- 04/11/2010 03:57:04 PM
1099 Views
Another hint
- 04/11/2010 04:02:54 PM
1003 Views
Re: Another hint
- 04/11/2010 04:23:28 PM
1045 Views
Ah, Republicans and sex scandals. They go together like beer and kebabs,
- 04/11/2010 04:29:19 PM
895 Views
All we need is for someone else to pay for our national defense and we can do it *NM*
- 04/11/2010 04:16:28 PM
587 Views
They should ban something which may have effect instead.
- 04/11/2010 02:27:05 PM
1122 Views
The toys do have effect. It's a positive reinforcer to eating the meal.
- 04/11/2010 10:57:49 PM
830 Views
What a bunch of morons.
- 04/11/2010 06:45:31 PM
1112 Views
these are the same people who keep sending Pelosi back year after year *NM*
- 04/11/2010 06:49:16 PM
441 Views
I accidentally posted this in the wrong spot. I reposted below to the original thread.
- 04/11/2010 11:22:32 PM
1053 Views
- 04/11/2010 11:22:32 PM
1053 Views
Re:
- 05/11/2010 12:02:41 AM
895 Views
I'm not sure what your point is.
- 05/11/2010 12:42:14 AM
856 Views
That fast food is not inherently bad/unhealthy.
- 05/11/2010 01:16:51 AM
1051 Views
Re: That fast food is not inherently bad/unhealthy.
- 05/11/2010 04:17:27 AM
1084 Views
In that case: Yes, there's always a new meat sack/flesh puppet around the next corner. *NM*
- 05/11/2010 09:38:57 PM
596 Views
Many here don't seem to understand the purpose of the toy.
- 05/11/2010 12:43:27 AM
1105 Views
kids of the happy meal age should not be deciding what they get to eat
- 05/11/2010 04:37:43 AM
1142 Views
Re: kids of the happy meal age should not be deciding what they get to eat
- 05/11/2010 06:27:21 PM
1006 Views
without a doubt parents need to be aware of marketing used to influence their kids
- 05/11/2010 07:29:06 PM
951 Views
Your overly-simplified psychology is wrong
- 05/11/2010 01:58:55 PM
1064 Views
raw milk is banned because of the potential of illness.
- 05/11/2010 06:20:01 PM
1007 Views
You miss my point (or helped me make it)
- 05/11/2010 07:58:59 PM
892 Views
because raw milk SALE AND DISTRIBUTION does not only affect the individual.
- 05/11/2010 08:37:10 PM
1190 Views
Excuse me, I have a degree in psychology and I have oversimplified nothing.
- 05/11/2010 06:42:24 PM
1164 Views
Like others have said...
- 05/11/2010 08:03:09 PM
1093 Views
if they wanted to have a real impact they would ban drive throughs *NM*
- 05/11/2010 04:39:52 AM
559 Views
Yet again government not letting people make their own decisions
- 10/11/2010 03:01:15 AM
1088 Views