San Francisco's Board of Supervisors passed the law on
Tuesday on a veto-proof 8-to-3 vote. It takes effect on Dec. 1, 2011.
The law, like an ordinance passed earlier this year in
nearby Santa Clara County, would require that restaurant kids' meals meet
certain nutritional standards before they could be sold with toys.
Opponents of the law include the National Restaurant
Association and McDonald's Corp, which used its now wildly popular Happy Meal
to pioneer the use of free toys to market directly to children.
"We are extremely disappointed with today's
decision. It's not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked
for," McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said in a statement.
"Getting a toy with a kid's meal is just one part of
a fun, family experience at McDonald's," Proud said.
The San Francisco law would allow toys to be given away
with kids' meals that have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and
vegetables, and include beverages without excessive fat or sugar.
Backers of the ordinance say it aims to promote healthy
eating habits while combating childhood obesity.
"Our children are sick. Rates of obesity in San
Francisco are disturbingly high, especially among children of color," said
San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure.
"This is a challenge to the restaurant industry to
think about children's health first and join the wide range of local
restaurants that have already made this commitment," Mar said.
