Recently, the County of Santa Clara passed an ordinance banning toys, gifts and promotions with high-calorie kids' meals offered by area restaurants. The ordinance forbids the inclusion of a toy in any restaurant meal that has more than 485 calories, more than 600 mg of salt or high amounts of sugar and/or fat. Restaurant Association spokesman Daniel Conway says this is sending the message that parents are making the wrong choices, and therefore, they should no longer have the choice.
To read more: Download the pdf
Help Needed to Oppose Santa Clara Toy Ban
The Santa Clara Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance authored by Supervisor Ken Yeager by a 3-2 vote that bans most toys and other incentives for children in restaurants in the unincorporated area of the county on April 27. The California Restaurant Association strongly opposed the ordinance and so did most county residents. (Read full press release)
Say NO!
Eric Mar, member of the Board of Supervisors for the City and County of San Francisco, is asking for legislation similar to Santa Clara County's Happy Meal Toy Ban. Call and tell him NO.
With nearly 33% of children in America considered to be overweight or
obese - a rate that has tripled in adolescents and more than doubled in younger
children since 1980 - an Obama Administration task force recently established a
goal of reducing the childhood obesity rate to just 5% by 2030, less than a gen-
eration away. To read more, Download the pdf
Survey Results
Eighty-seven percent of Santa Clara County residents do not agree that local government and lawmakers are better informed than ordinary citizens about what kind of food sold in restaurants is healthy and nutritious.
Read Survey Results: SURVEY: SANTA CLARA COUNTY RESIDENTS ON THE TOY BAN (Read More)
San Francisco tees up for its own toy ban
Supervisor Eric Mar may help San Francisco join a larger movement to prohibit fast-food businesses from offering toys with kids' meals. (Read more)
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Delays Vote On Controversial Toy Ban Bill
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors delayed the Happy Meal toy ban vote until November 2, Election Day. Supervisor Eric Mar, chief legislative author, in a recent article from food.change.org, states that “we have built a strong coalition of supporters and strong majority support on the board. We are committed to delivering on the ordinance’s vital health protections and continue to work with colleagues in firming up a strong implementation plan that responds to concerns raised by the restaurant industry.”
