The New York Timesreports that a new law in Santa Clara County in California bans fast food restaurants from offering promotional toys with fast food meals. Only meals that don't meet the county's nutritional standards are banned from using promotional toys. Most kids meals sold by fast food chains will not meet the standards.
"What we're trying to do is de-link the connection between unhealthy food and toys," said Mr. Yeager, who added that he believed children chose their meals based on the giveaway that came with it. "Why would a kid say 'I want a burger with fries'? It's the toys that they want."
The law, the first of its kind, will allow restaurants to give away toys as long as the meals don’t contain excessive calories, sodium, sugar or fat. "This ordinance does not attack toys," Mr. Yeager said just before the board passed the law by a 3-2 vote. "Toys, in and of themselves, do not make children obese."
The New York Times says the ban is expected to begin this summer after a final Santa Clara County vote in May. A McDonald's spokesperson told the Times they are disappointed by the board's action. Marketers won't be too happy with the ban either, because they use kids' meals to promote the summer blockusters. For example, Burger King is carryingIron Man 2 toys for boys and girls.
The New York Times 
