A push to ban toys as bait for fast food

SAN JOSE, Calif. - In an effort to curb childhood obesity, county officials in Silicon Valley voted yesterday to ban restaurants from giving away toys and other freebies that often come with high-calorie meals aimed at kids.

The ordinance is largely symbolic as it would cover only unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, meaning only a dozen fast-food outlets and several other family restaurants would be affected.

But its chief sponsor says it's important because it paves the way for other areas to act, may spur action by fast-food chains to offer healthier choices, and can help parents by taking away a child's incentive for wanting less healthy food.

"This ordinance does not attack toys. Obviously, toys, in and of themselves, do not make children obese," said county Supervisor Ken Yeager, who pushed for the ban. "But it is unfair to parents and children to use toys to capture the tastes of children when they are young to get them hooked on eating high-sugar, high-fat foods early in life."

The ban, which faces a final vote next month, would prohibit restaurants from giving away an incentive item, like a toy, with a meal that contains more than 485 calories, more than 600 milligrams of sodium and excessive amounts of fat and sugars.

The California Restaurant Association lobbied against the ordinance, calling it misguided and another example of government overreaching.

- AP