McDonald’s to Halt Some Happy Meal Toys - Bloomberg
McDonald’s Corp. (MCD), the world’s largest restaurant chain, will stop giving out Hello Kitty figurines or any other toys with its Happy Meals in San Francisco starting tomorrow because of a new city ordinance.
“A law was passed recently which means we cannot give away a free toy with our Happy Meals” at the 19 McDonald’s stores in San Francisco, Danya Proud, a spokeswoman, said in an e-mailed statement today. Beginning tomorrow, parents will have the option to buy a toy separately for 10 cents when they purchase a Happy Meal or Mighty Kids Meal, she said.
Restaurant meals in San Francisco can’t include a free toy unless they have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables and have a beverage that isn’t excessively sugary or fatty, according to the City and County of San Francisco website.
The city’s Healthy Meal Incentive law seeks to reduce childhood obesity and help kids adopt healthier eating habits. About 12.5 million, or 17 percent of U.S. children and adolescents ages two to 19, are considered obese, almost triple the rate in 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This clearly illustrates that McDonald’s is feeling the public pressure,” said Sara Deon, campaign director at Corporate Accountability International, a Boston-based group that advocates that companies act in the public interest.
“We’ll continue to see cities and towns across the country address this,” she said.
Legislation pending in Michigan and New York also would ban eateries from distributing toys with meals that don’t meet certain nutritional standards.