Toys Banned in some Fast Food Restaurants in Cali

[BaLa]

Toys banned in some California fast food restaurants
By Sara Bonisteel, Special to CNN
April 28, 2010 4:28 p.m. EDT

About a dozen fast food restaurants in unincorporated areas of Silicon Valley are affected by the ordinance.

(CNN) -- A California county on Tuesday became the first in the nation to ban toys from fast food kids' meals high in calories, fat, salt and sugar.
Santa Clara County supervisors voted 3-2 to ban the plastic goodies as promotions in meals with more than 485 calories.
County supervisor Ken Yeager said Tuesday that the ordinance "prevents restaurants from preying on children's love of toys to peddle high-calorie, high-fat, high-sodium kids' meals," and would help fight childhood obesity.

Rest

What is this country coming to

[Sava700]

wow what a dumb idea...

[Roody]

Been an ongoing conversation on another forum board I frequent. Been pretty divisive also in the input.

[morbidpete]

remember when parents had to be parents and actually tell and restrict what kids can eat see and do? Or even us as adults had to make our own decisions on what to eat see or do. With the U.S. controlling every aspect of our lives more and more, no wonder no one can fend for them selves anymore

[Humboldt]

With the U.S. controlling every aspect of our lives more and more, no wonder no one can fend for them selves anymore

If that's what kids are being fed it seems the parents are too stupid to feed their own children.

[morbidpete]

If that's what kids are being fed it seems the parents are too stupid to feed their own children.

I agree, Im sure the fact that there is not enough time in the day to make a meal at home any more and both parents working. But there are other options. How much do we have to control until we start blaming parents?

[Humboldt]

I agree, Im sure the fact that there is not enough time in the day to make a meal at home any more and both parents working. But there are other options. How much do we have to control until we start blaming parents?

I'm not saying I support the control over the food industry at all and I feel the parents are 100% responsible for what their children eat.

But the way the super-crappy and unhealthy food is marketed for kids has a huge impact on the fact we have the fattest kids in the world. Hell, I saw something about 20 or 30% of late teens being too obese to be accepted into the armed forces.

[morbidpete]

I'm not saying I support the control over the food industry at all and I feel the parents are 100% responsible for what their children eat.

But the way the super-crappy and unhealthy food is marketed for kids has a huge impact on the fact we have the fattest kids in the world. Hell, I saw something about 20 or 30% of late teens being too obese to be accepted into the armed forces.

yea its pretty high, But if they dont have the motivation or self control to take care of them selves then not sure i want to fight with them. guess there is always 2 sides to a coin

[Humboldt]

yea its pretty high, But if they dont have the motivation or self control to take care of them selves then not sure i want to fight with them. guess there is always 2 sides to a coin

That's my point though. I agree it's a good thing obese people aren't allowed into a physically demanding job that others' lives depend on, but the fact so many young people are that heavy, especially in grade school, is disturbing.

[SlyOneDoofy]

1984....

[morbidpete]

1984....

my birth year?

[SlyOneDoofy]

my birth year?

Do you need someone to tell you what to eat? I mean really....

[cho]

remember when parents had to be parents and actually tell and restrict what kids can eat see and do? Or even us as adults had to make our own decisions on what to eat see or do. With the U.S. controlling every aspect of our lives more and more, no wonder no one can fend for them selves anymore

Seems to me people started making stupid choices which demonstrated an inability to fend for themselves before the government got overly involved. In fact the government probably felt they had to get involved because of the moronic state of the people.

But I understand your point, by over protecting and removing responsibility they run a dangerous risk of creating a cycle of dependence.

[SlyOneDoofy]

Seems to me people started making stupid choices which demonstrated an inability to fend for themselves before the government got overly involved. In fact the government probably felt they had to get involved because of the moronic state of the people.

But I understand your point, by over protecting and removing responsibility they run a dangerous risk of creating a cycle of dependence.

Honestly I think this is about the stupidest thing in the world

Lets expand this...go to the ballpark and eat your tofu dog and drink a veggie mix while you watch the game....enjoy.

Oh wait...you swiped your citizen card and it seems you have gone over your daily allowance of food.....

Please do not confuse the role of society with the role of government. If you do... you have no rights.

[morbidpete]

I do not need anyone to tell me what to eat. I care what i look like. So I dont eat garbage all day every day. I dont eat when im bored. I dont mow down on burgers and fries for lunch at work. Long story short dude. It's pathetic that people cant take care of them selves and others they are responsible for and the government has to step in to take care of us. Like cho said. The more choice that is taken away the more we become reliant.



And i still dont understand what my age has to do anything

[Sarahnn]

A toy in the meal has fewer calories than the food. Seriously though...."calories in, energy out".

Happy meals would be perfectly acceptable if we made the kids walk home after they ate it.

[Philip]

While self control, parental guidance, civil liberties and small government are great principles...

Kids get bombarded with ads on TV, in stores, and everywhere they turn. There are childrens books promoting large corporations and their products (Disney ?). There is peer pressure at schools, most foods/juices/cereals are oversweetened to appeal to children, not to mention the playgrounds at fast food places, toys and other marketing gimmicks.

With billions of dollars poured into marketing/advertising targeted at 5 year olds, there seems to be an unfair advantage that has negative influence on kids' general health. When they're raised submerged in this type of society while they're at such fragile age, their entire life is bound to be influenced by it.

[Dan]

And i still dont understand what my age has to do anything

maybe not your bday,but a reference to this movie ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_E ... %28film%29

"Plot summary;
Winston Smith endures a squalid existence in the totalitarian superstate of Oceania under the constant surveillance of the Thought Police."

[Sarahnn]

While self control, parental guidance, civil liberties and small government are great principles...

Kids get bombarded with ads on TV, in stores, and everywhere they turn. There are childrens books promoting large corporations and their products (Disney ?). There is peer pressure at schools, most foods/juices/cereals are oversweetened to appeal to children, not to mention the playgrounds at fast food places, toys and other marketing gimmicks.

With billions of dollars poured into marketing/advertising targeted at 5 year olds, there seems to be an unfair advantage that has negative influence on kids' general health. When they're raised submerged in this type of society while they're at such fragile age, their entire life is bound to be influenced by it.

Adults also, Philip. Advertising is scientifically geared to manipulate the public. There is little resistance against such sophisticated techniques, except cultural isolation.

[Philip]

Adults also, Philip. Advertising is scientifically geared to manipulate the public. There is little resistance against such sophisticated techniques, except cultural isolation.

I agree, it's just that adults theoretically have more self-control and are considered responsible for their own actions.

[Rainbow]

Most of the replies are obviously NOT coming from parents.
I use to take My kids to Mcdonalds once in a while sure, they ate 4 bites and wanted to go outside to play in the built in playground.
What kid doesn't bug you when you drive past a Mcdonalds that they want a Happy Meal? Heck My kids use to go to other kids birthday parties at Mcdonalds.
I never had a problem with fast food a couple times a month. They are now grown and still only hit fast food a few times a month.
I have no problem with that whatsoever. I myself probably hit Wendy's or subway 3 or 4 times a month.

[Humboldt]

And i still dont understand what my age has to do anything

Absolutely nothing pete.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four

A very debated book.

[mnosteele52]

While self control, parental guidance, civil liberties and small government are great principles...

Kids get bombarded with ads on TV, in stores, and everywhere they turn. There are childrens books promoting large corporations and their products (Disney ?). There is peer pressure at schools, most foods/juices/cereals are oversweetened to appeal to children, not to mention the playgrounds at fast food places, toys and other marketing gimmicks.

With billions of dollars poured into marketing/advertising targeted at 5 year olds, there seems to be an unfair advantage that has negative influence on kids' general health. When they're raised submerged in this type of society while they're at such fragile age, their entire life is bound to be influenced by it.

Well said Philip, it seems to me that most of the posters in this thread don't have small children, I do and see this as a good thing.

[jeremyboycool]

I would imagine that the parents that take their kids out for fast food regularly probably don't feed their kids very well at home either. So this law might not make much of an impact.

Despite that, however, I don't have any quarrels with attempts to make fast food healthier. Fast food plays a major part in our overall heath, in this country which consequently means it also has a major impact on health-care.

[rant]
You want to cut health care cost? Then people need to become healthier, as I have heard many of you say here. But sometime people prove they are, in fact, nothing but animals and need to be prodded into action. So take your pick; healthier people or more tax money into health care?

People always bitch and whine about lazy people, then when something is being done about it, they bitch and whine about the government overstepping its bounds. If you want the government to back off then people need to get more responsible for themselves and their community, that way there would be no need for the state or government to get involved. That is how you preserve your freedom, by being responsible with it.

[/rant]

[morbidpete]

thanks for clearing that up lol. I was so confused.

[Sarahnn]

I agree, it's just that adults theoretically have more self-control and are considered responsible for their own actions.

Actually then, if adults are responsible, they can control their children eating habits.

Crazy world.

[YARDofSTUF]

Maybe they'll ban elevators and escalators next.

[Sarahnn]

Maybe they'll ban elevators and escalators next.

Yeah...and airplanes!

Not a bad idea actually. Maybe reserve elevators for the handicapped only. You know like a third of a parking lot closest to the entrance is reserved for the handicapped on rainy days when the handicapped think it's best to stay indoors, so the handicap spaces are empty. And you forgot your umbrella and have to park a quarter mile out?

[cho]

Honestly I think this is about the stupidest thing in the world

Lets expand this...go to the ballpark and eat your tofu dog and drink a veggie mix while you watch the game....enjoy.

Oh wait...you swiped your citizen card and it seems you have gone over your daily allowance of food.....

Please do not confuse the role of society with the role of government. If you do... you have no rights.

First of all I was only responding to morbidpete's comment and I was not agreeing with the actual article.

Second of all sometimes the government does need to step in to protect the citizens. Not to the point that they control every little thing that you eat but they do have a responsibility to make sure the food we are eating is not going to cause a preventable harmful diseases or illness.

If it can be proven that a specific pesticide being used on crops, or chemicals being pumped into food cause specific health problems / birth defects etc and there is no law preventing the use of these chemicals then yes the government should step in to prevent it.

It is also the governments job to support the education of the people and empower them to be able to make the right choices when it comes to eating. Some people think they eat healthy but can't figure out why they are so obese, or why they can't control their diabetes, or why their kids are so obese. Others know they are not eating healthy but do not know how to change their life style habits. They need assistance and education to provide the answers which can help facilitate a life style change, provided those people commit to it.

It is easy to bitch and moan and jump to extremes like your "daily food allowances" and it is even easier to shoot down any attempts to try and correct the health crisis North America is currently under going. But here is a thought why don't you actually try and do something useful and constructive? You think it is up to society...well I'm pretty sure you are a member of society so what would you suggest?

[cho]

Most of the replies are obviously NOT coming from parents.
I use to take My kids to Mcdonalds once in a while sure, they ate 4 bites and wanted to go outside to play in the built in playground.
What kid doesn't bug you when you drive past a Mcdonalds that they want a Happy Meal? Heck My kids use to go to other kids birthday parties at Mcdonalds.
I never had a problem with fast food a couple times a month. They are now grown and still only hit fast food a few times a month.
I have no problem with that whatsoever. I myself probably hit Wendy's or subway 3 or 4 times a month.

And I'd say you sound like a good parent who has strong parenting skills. Were you also the type of parent who made sure their kids got good doses of exercise and did not sit on their asses all day long? By any chance are your kids obese? You don't have to answer either of these questions if they are too personal. Judging from your post I'd say your kids are healthy, as are you.

I don't see a problem with eating fast food 3 to 4 times a month. But on the flipside you got some parents that go fast food places 3 to 4 times a week. One of the biggest problems with fast food is that it is cheap and not very healthy. If money is tight, or there is just no time to cook because a parent is working two jobs a week not going to a fast food place can be pretty freaking hard.

Healthy food can be expensive, groceries can be expensive especially if you are raising kids, who were like I was (never full). If you get more bang for you buck by buying fast food, and do so often, then that is a huge problem because those kids are being placed a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses. I'm not saying fast food places should be shut down, but cheaper and healthier alternatives need to be established to combat these issues. Education, as I've said in a previous post, is also needed. That job for the most part falls into the realm of public health which I'm assuming in the US is a government related job?

And at least some of those people are doing it out of necessity to make sure their families have something to eat. I'm complete baffled when I see a parent giving a baby (under 18 months for sure) a large fries from McDonalds as lunch...I mean seriously...do they know what they are doing? Do they really think that is a nutritious lunch?

also if you don't think it is ok to advertise cigarettes to children but you do find it acceptable to have fast food advertising targeting children, why is that?

[Sarahnn]

I don't see a problem with eating fast food 3 to 4 times a month. But on the flipside you got some parents that go fast food places 3 to 4 times a week.

They won't want to go even that much when they find out they won't get the toy.

[Rainbow]

And I'd say you sound like a good parent who has strong parenting skills. Were you also the type of parent who made sure their kids got good doses of exercise and did not sit on their asses all day long? By any chance are your kids obese? You don't have to answer either of these questions if they are too personal. Judging from your post I'd say your kids are healthy, as are you.

I don't see a problem with eating fast food 3 to 4 times a month. But on the flipside you got some parents that go fast food places 3 to 4 times a week. One of the biggest problems with fast food is that it is cheap and not very healthy. If money is tight, or there is just no time to cook because a parent is working two jobs a week not going to a fast food place can be pretty freaking hard.

Healthy food can be expensive, groceries can be expensive especially if you are raising kids, who were like I was (never full). If you get more bang for you buck by buying fast food, and do so often, then that is a huge problem because those kids are being placed a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses. I'm not saying fast food places should be shut down, but cheaper and healthier alternatives need to be established to combat these issues. Education, as I've said in a previous post, is also needed. That job for the most part falls into the realm of public health which I'm assuming in the US is a government related job?

And at least some of those people are doing it out of necessity to make sure their families have something to eat. I'm complete baffled when I see a parent giving a baby (under 18 months for sure) a large fries from McDonalds as lunch...I mean seriously...do they know what they are doing? Do they really think that is a nutritious lunch?

also if you don't think it is ok to advertise cigarettes to children but you do find it acceptable to have fast food advertising targeting children, why is that?

First Thank You
Second My kids are all healthy. My Daughter (25) just Ran the Boston Marathon last Monday..I'm very proud of that. She's an avid runner like I use to be.
My 2 sons 21 and 18 both work out 4 or 5 times a week. They love going to the gym and the older plays Basketball.
Myself I work all the dam time but I love taking My dog for nice long walks on weekends

[JC]

d. That is how you preserve your freedom, by being responsible with it.

[/rant]

Really???? I think not.

[SlyOneDoofy]

First of all I was only responding to morbidpete's comment and I was not agreeing with the actual article.

Second of all sometimes the government does need to step in to protect the citizens. Not to the point that they control every little thing that you eat but they do have a responsibility to make sure the food we are eating is not going to cause a preventable harmful diseases or illness.

If it can be proven that a specific pesticide being used on crops, or chemicals being pumped into food cause specific health problems / birth defects etc and there is no law preventing the use of these chemicals then yes the government should step in to prevent it.

It is also the governments job to support the education of the people and empower them to be able to make the right choices when it comes to eating. Some people think they eat healthy but can't figure out why they are so obese, or why they can't control their diabetes, or why their kids are so obese. Others know they are not eating healthy but do not know how to change their life style habits. They need assistance and education to provide the answers which can help facilitate a life style change, provided those people commit to it.

It is easy to bitch and moan and jump to extremes like your "daily food allowances" and it is even easier to shoot down any attempts to try and correct the health crisis North America is currently under going. But here is a thought why don't you actually try and do something useful and constructive? You think it is up to society...well I'm pretty sure you are a member of society so what would you suggest?

I wasn't attacking you. Just attacking the idiocity of the idea of banning happy meals.

Seriously, Ban Chuck E Cheese and all fun places...Ban Disneyland for serving hotdogs.

Are you gunna just stop with happy meals?

Ban HungryMan meals....they make me feel manly when I eat them.

Ban Bon-Bons ...they make women fat.

Now that we have required healthcare you all are whining about others and their habits. LMAO

ANyway, It is not the job of government to dictate private industry if they are doing something legal.

How about we make a senior meal...get rid of the old ones on SS so we pay less taxes.

[cho]

I wasn't attacking you. Just attacking the idiocity of the idea of banning happy meals.
Seriously, Ban Chuck E Cheese and all fun places...Ban Disneyland for serving hotdogs.
Are you gunna just stop with happy meals?
Ban HungryMan meals....they make me feel manly when I eat them.
Ban Bon-Bons ...they make women fat.
Now that we have required healthcare you all are whining about others and their habits. LMAO
ANyway, It is not the job of government to dictate private industry if they are doing something legal.
How about we make a senior meal...get rid of the old ones on SS so we pay less taxes.

I'm not taking anything you say as an attack, for the record, and for the record I'm not American, I'm Canadian so required healthcare isn't a new issue for me. I'm also an RN leaning towards a career in public health so I'm enjoying this debate. I've also dealt with a lot of this stuff through out school.

You say: "ANyway, It is not the job of government to dictate private industry if they are doing something legal". So going back to my earlier question do you think it was wrong for the government to step in and prevent cigarette companies from being able to aim their products at children? I mean originally that was legal for companies to do. That parallels what they are trying to do here.

Putting the whole stupid toy thing aside, cause quiet frankly it is stupid, you do not think the government has any responsibility when it comes to helping educate individuals and families about making healthier choices?

Or if tomorrow it was discovered that some ingredient used to make some consumable item, which was being eaten by a majority of the nation on a daily basis, was directly responsible for causing brain cancer and the company who made said product refused to stop using it because 1) it made the food taste as great as it does and 2) it isn't an illegal substance to use, it would be wrong for the government to step in to ban this product in order to save people's lives and the country's health?

[SlyOneDoofy]

I'm not taking anything you say as an attack, for the record, and for the record I'm not American, I'm Canadian so required healthcare isn't a new issue for me. I'm also an RN leaning towards a career in public health so I'm enjoying this debate. I've also dealt with a lot of this stuff through out school.

You say: "ANyway, It is not the job of government to dictate private industry if they are doing something legal". So going back to my earlier question do you think it was wrong for the government to step in and prevent cigarette companies from being able to aim their products at children? I mean originally that was legal for companies to do. That parallels what they are trying to do here.

Putting the whole stupid toy thing aside, cause quiet frankly it is stupid, you do not think the government has any responsibility when it comes to helping educate individuals and families about making healthier choices?

Or if tomorrow it was discovered that some ingredient used to make some consumable item, which was being eaten by a majority of the nation on a daily basis, was directly responsible for causing brain cancer and the company who made said product refused to stop using it because 1) it made the food taste as great as it does and 2) it isn't an illegal substance to use, it would be wrong for the government to step in to ban this product in order to save people's lives and the country's health?

In my state it's illegal for children to smoke...so yes, IMO, it is ok for the government to stop ads focusing on children smoking since it is an illegal activity.

While happy meal ads do focus on children I think it's the responsibility of the parent, not the government to regulate the childs diet. Happy meals are not poison. If a child has 1-2 of them a month I doubt there will be any effects on their health. I don't think it's the governments job to BAN them.

I see nothing wrong with educating people about the nutritional facts of food. I think it's a good idea to see what goes into our bodies.

In my opinion, this type of a government movement would require you to take action heros off the wrappers on candy bars and not make any video games for children because it makes them sit around in front of the tv instead of exercising.

It rubs me wrong when certain items are singled out when we know that they are only a small part of the problem. If a parent is too lazy to provide decent meals for their children they will still stop at the fast food joint, regardless of the toy being included or not, and feed their family.

Bad parenting is more the problem than happy meals.

Just my opinion...

[Humboldt]

Bad parenting is more the problem than happy meals.

Just my opinion...

(not quoting the rest as this is what I'm replying to)

Agreed

I don't know where I stand on this one.

The less gov't interference in what should be personal choice the better...but then I look at all these obese 7 year-olds and wonder what the hell can be done to offset having the fattest nation on earth.

You want to kill yourself through food, fine, your call. But to do the same to your children is just wrong.

[SlyOneDoofy]

(not quoting the rest as this is what I'm replying to)

Agreed

I don't know where I stand on this one.

The less gov't interference in what should be personal choice the better...but then I look at all these obese 7 year-olds and wonder what the hell can be done to offset having the fattest nation on earth.

You want to kill yourself through food, fine, your call. But to do the same to your children is just wrong.

If you don't cook your food at home it is more expensive to eat healthy.

I think the dollar menu may have more of a role in child obesity than the happy meal. Feeding a family of 4 for 10 bucks or less is pretty hard to find anywhere else.

[Humboldt]

What gets me even more is the way fast food chains have gotten contracts with public schools.

[SlyOneDoofy]

What gets me even more is the way fast food chains have gotten contracts with public schools.

I agree they shouldn't be in schools.

But I'm sure they pay a good price for rent to the school so it would be hard for the school to resist the extra income.