People drive the market with demand, not the other way around. I do think, however, that the fast food containers should have ingredient and caloric information on them. Put it on the bottom which is usually blank. The cost would be minimal as the containers are almost all imprinted anyway. I have two stents and eat a very low fat diet. But sometimes, I just gotta have some fries.

Agreed, softdude! It's a great way to give us the info we need to make a decision! I've seen that on packaging for McNuggets.

Wonderful to see how easy it is to make fools of the foolish politicians that rule us. Throw them all out.

Good idea Soft dude most of us do eat more fat than is good for us but more info and less force would help.
Trying to shove this nutrition nazi stuff down our throats only makes a lot of people dig in their heels and this is what Mcdonalds was counting on with this gimmick.

But... but this is a state taking the action. I thought you people are all about state rights. Like you think state's should be able to ban abortion. I'm so confused. Or maybe the people who want to legislate morals while staying out of everything else don't make sense. You think?

No, what companies sell is not driven by demand. You cannot buy things if they are not offered, and it is not so easy to simply start up a multinational company with outlets on every street to sell something that the "market" does not currently provide. Furthermore, the terrible nutritional choices provided by McDonalds are driven largely by huge government subsidies that make corn syrup and beef artificially inexpensive, and vegetables and fruits much more expensive.

I am sick of people talking about "The Market" like it was God and anything it does is automatically correct, good, and desirable. It is NOT.

Oh it's the Big Mac's fault. It made me eat it! Seriously....does personal responsibility mean anything to Liberals? It most certainly is driven by demand. I don't eat at McDonalds but it doesn't give me the right to tell you are anyone else what to eat. If everyone didn't eat there they would be out of business.

@Renee Marie Jones

1st: If people didn't WANT McDonald's food, people wouldn't BUY McDonald's food, and McDonald's would be out of business. Yes: what companies sell is driven by demand.

2nd: Why are you blaming the (free) market on the results of government interference? Do you see at all how that might be illogical?

*for the*

Way to go McDonald's! I'd charge 5 cents for the toy, and reduce the price of the Happy Meal by the same amount.

I wonder if the people that pushed for this law eat healthy food all day every day, no exceptions.

What?-3106699 said:

Seriously....does personal responsibility mean anything to Liberals?

Golly gee! That sounds like a perfect argument to allow abortion, weed, and whatever else!

I don't eat at McDonalds but it doesn't give me the right to tell you are anyone else what to eat.

I don't have abortions, or have any interest in marrying someone of my same gender, but that doesn't give me the right to tell anyone else that they can't.

Can you support what I said, or do you draw the line with only allowing things that you agree with?

Boom, I actually agree with you. =/ If someone wants to be married to someone of the same sex, why stop them from being happy?

In many cases, i.e. rape OR a pregnancy that may harm/kill the mother, abortion seems pretty logical unless you're a Jesus freak. In which case, stfu and get over your selves.

Lastly, If I want to eat at McDonalds, I shall. If I want my kids to eat at McDonalds, or any other fast food joint for that matter, they will/can too. It's not the governments responsibility to keep me healthy. It's my own. Been that way for thousands of years has it not?

I suppose you think the government should keep everyone from driving since there are wrecks every day, huh?

Way to go Mickey D's. Stick it to those who try to tell us how to live!

What frustrates me is that people want it both ways. We want freedoms to make the choices we want but as soon as we are hurt by someone else, we want "new" laws protecting us. This is situation is frustrating because we want food that tastes good and is cheap. But really this food is not very good for any of us. How about a smart solution which would help everyone? That would be to have minimum HEALTHY food standards in ALL foods (fast foods, foods from the grocer and especially foods at SCHOOLS). For all you manly-men out there, I'm with you, I don't need a salad forced on me when I crave a burger. I'm talking about the QUALITY of the meat and other foods. I was quite upset by the whole Taco Bell incident by both facts that they didn't have enough beef to meet the minimum requirements, but also that the minimum requires only 35% beef to call it taco meat mix! Is McDonalds food good for you? We all know the fries don't spoil after weeks in the car. Pick out some lean meat and some high fat content meat at the grocer and grill some burgers. Does the McDonalds burger look anything like either of the ones you made? Wouldn't you be angry at someone who was cheating your family by feeding them crap and passing it off as healthy to eat?

Yay for McDonald's continuing to produce cheap,and often unsafe, plastic crap in China!It's bad enough that the food is crappy,but to use toys to entice kids into wanting it is sick.It's a gimmick McD's is riding all the way to the bank.Why, as a society, do we think kids need a toy included with their meal?

so don't eat there, and don't buy your kids meals (and toys) there. Problem solved.

Gee Boom. Just because you are a party line minion doesn't mean everyone can't think for themselves. You are assuming that I don't support abortion rights or making weed legal. You know what they say about assume. Yes you sound like an ass so I can understand why you got it wrong. The real hypocrites are the ones who want big government, legal weed but ban happy meals. You are a joke Progressives.

People eat fast food because they like it. A cheeseburger and fries tastes great! There's no doubt eating healthy is better for you, but it's your choice. I bring my lunch to work, it's cheaper and more healthy. However I'm not going to tell you what to eat and the government shouldn't either. As for other laws governing abortion, gay marriage, and legal weed, I say go for it and get rid of them.

Diamond - There's no doubt eating healthy is better for you, but it's your choice.

They're talking about kids' meals here. You must be a kid if you think this applies to you.

1st: If people didn't WANT McDonald's food, people wouldn't BUY McDonald's food, and McDonald's would be out of business. Yes: what companies sell is driven by demand.

It is distressing that people actually believe this kind of tripe. Study human nature a little bit. People will buy this crap and eat it because it is there. It has nothing to do with great demand. It is fast, it tastes ok, and is conveniently located. That is why people buy it. Part of what a good society does is regulate so that human nature, which isn't always decent, doesn't allow those who can harm the many just because they can. McDonald's, in their incessant quest for profit, will pretty much sell you anything and take advantage of the fact that most people are too lazy or too busy to take the time to make good choices. So as a society we have a couple of options to protect ourselves from ourselves, we can regulate so that they do not take advantage of our being too busy or lazy to do what is right, or we just let them be and pay for all of those people who were too busy or lazy and have their heart attack or hardened arteries and end up in a hospital uninsured. It's cheeper for society as a whole to just make McDonald's sell a healthier meal because you're not going to have much success changing human nature. All one has to do is look at our failings at regulating greed to see that.

@Amused...

I'm a marketing major. Human nature is a majority of my study. But that's beside the point.

McDonald's never forced ANYONE to eat to eat at their restaurants. People choose to eat there because they want to. They desire the product McDonald's is selling; so they seek it out (hence: "demand"). The only time you can argue against McDonald's not forcing people to eat there is when it comes to kids. But that's a weak argument; because it falls apart at: "stop letting the TV babysit your freakin' kids" and: "grow a pair; and take control of your whiny brats."

And did you actually express support for government regulation of our personal choices? Are you out of your mind? The ONLY thing that makes this country worthwhile in comparison to other countries (well, "made" is probably more correct, these days) is that INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY is/was always its most important value. If we lose sight of that, we have a very grim future.

Gee Boom. Just because you are a party line minion doesn't mean everyone can't think for themselves.

Party line minion? Me? You make quite the assumptions. Sorry, but I'm not a Democrat. I'm more similar to a Libertarian than anything else -- live and let live. You, on the other hand, are the one parroting GOP/talk radio talking points verbatim (and you honestly expect people to believe that you think for yourself?). I was merely pointing out the logically fallacies inherent in your positions when compared to other talking points that you have a 90%+ chance of parroting.

You are assuming that I don't support abortion rights or making weed legal. You know what they say about assume. Yes you sound like an ass so I can understand why you got it wrong.

You are a joke Progressives.

If you look like a duck, act like a duck, and sound like a duck. Chances are: you're a duck! Also, hypocrisy is assuming that someone is a certain way, but getting offended when someone assumes that you are a certain way and poorly attempting to mock them for it. This is where you eat your words.

I find it hilarious that everything that I have seen you write I have heard while listening to Rush Radio, and you believe that you are an independent thinker.

You never answered my question directly: Do you support gay rights, legalized abortion for all who want it, and drugs?

A simple "yes I support those things" or "no I don't support those things" would suffice. Please don't answer like a politician would, again.

All this talk about personal responsibility in what one eats is great. BUT - people who go to McDonalds also force their children to eat there who then develop poor eating habits. And kids easily get sucked into the "free" toy marketing ploy. I am, however, glad that Mcd's has decided to go the apple and smaller fries route. Come on, what child needs these huge helpings of fat, sugar, and salt?

I know my 195 pound - seven year old isn't going to be happy about smaller portions......

Renee, in a free society, people have right to make their own choices. This means that they will pick what is unhealthy for them.

Just as the video "Fat Head" has shown, "no one is forcing anyone to eat at McDonald's".

I like the idea, but I think it would have had a MUCH better "IN YOUR FACE!" effect by charging 1 cent extra for the toys, not like I'm complaining about a dime, just saying that by only charging 1 penny you're really making a better point of "just to get around the stupidity of your law!", it'd be even more effective, if it were possible to charge a fraction of a penny, say like "we're charging 1/10th of a penny for the toy, of course, that number rounds down, so customers don't literally pay anything for it, but, that's still the official price for the toy, as far as this law is concerned!"

I can understand the government getting involved in a situation where for example a manufacturing plant is polluting a towns drinking water. In this case the citizens don't have a choice regarding their water. However when it comes to fast foods people can opt to buy or not to buy.

Yes McDonalds will sell anything.

They do not care if it is a Cheesed out Burger with Fries and a sugar filled drink OR a Bowl of Brown Rice with Tofu and no preservatives. They just want to be the one to sell it. They have tried 'healthy' burgers (McLean Deluxe) and it was a FLOP. Wendy's had a whole menu called "Light Side" including multigrain Buns it FLOPPED. There was an entire Chain--D'Lites--it went BANKRUPT. Subway tries to say they are healthier, but you still add on the Cheese, Mayo, or buy the Melted Cheesed out sandwiches more.

I fully support having all nutritional info prominently displayed, Calorie Counts on the Menu Board (like we have in NYC)...Give them the info. It is YOUR choice to follow it.

Yes McDonalds will sell anything...anything you want to buy

As they should

This whole story and comment line just amazes me. For all of you bleeding heart liberals, as a father of two younger children I accept my personal responsibility of what my kids eat. I feed them healthy food for the most part. On rare occasion I do like to take them to McDonalds or some other fast food joint. Do I know the food is bad for them...YES! Are my kids overweight, unhealthy, in danger of serious health problems....NO...why you ask...because I am a dad that loves his children and last time I checked able to make a responsible decision as to the well-being of my children.

Why must my kids be punished because your kids are out of control and do what ever the hell they want or you are to busy trying to rule other peoples lives to pay attention to what you are feeding your kids...why don't you blame yourself for your kids getting fat before you blame a harmless fast food place. I mean come on now... it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize the food is un-healthy...oh wait maybe compared to the liberals out there we are all rocket scientists because we can actually think for ourselves.

Amused

Your post sent a chill down my back that scared me like no other.

Part of what a good society does is regulate so that human nature, which isn't always decent, doesn't allow those who can harm the many just because they can. McDonald's, in their incessant quest for profit, will pretty much sell you anything and take advantage of the fact that most people are too lazy or too busy to take the time to make good choices.

You want to save society from itself. A noble gesture. History is strewn with examples of the "enlightened ones" (a good society) who want to save society from itself and each one has had disastrous results. Some of them have resulted in genocide(s) that have stunned the world - Hitler and the Jewish problem, the Serb/Bosnian ethnic cleansing - while they are extreme examples, still done by people (enlightened ones) who were trying to save society from itself. Ask yourself who decides? how is it regulated/enforced? do you think once you start down that road (and in some cases we have) that you can just stop and turn around? Some will say this is just McDonald's or just kid's meals we are talking about here! No, it is a matter of controlling other people. You say we cannot change human nature citing the failures at regulating greed as an example no I don't agree with that. There are more good people than bad in the world - as has always will be. You want to turn over control of your life to others (or do you want to be one of the enlightened ones), go ahead. It's easy to do. While the efforts to change human nature are more daunting and will take much, much longer, the end results will last much, much longer than your solution. Your solution removes personal responsibility, treats "those other" people as too stupid for their own good. You don't get a "Good Society" by banning things or regulating them into non-existence (which seems to be the road we are on) you get a Great Society thru education and example.

D's make dumb mistakes. R's make mean mistakes.

knucklehead, policies that have created a permanent nanny state that we see now with multiple generations of welfare is not only dumb, it is mean. And it is a core component of the "D's" platform and strategy. It's also inhuman.

Yeah its very mean to provide poor folks with money to eat....

@Basedrum777... Yes! It is mean to provide poor folks money to eat, while failing to provide them with jobs to buy their own food. Keeping people in perpetual poverty and then making them dependent on your leftovers is the meanest thing one can do to a fellow human being. It is neo-slavery. And you pro-nanny-state-puppets are the neo-KKK.

It is mean when you're purposely creating more poor people that'll also need to be taken care of to do it, and that's EXACTLY what the MO of the democratic party is-- to make everyone as dependant as possible on their type of government so survival depends the donk- no, jack-asses- being voted back in.

Yes! It is mean to provide poor folks money to eat, while failing to provide them with jobs to buy their own food. Keeping people in perpetual poverty and then making them dependent on your leftovers is the meanest thing one can do to a fellow human being.

So where ARE those jobs? What a moronic statement. You just impugned the platform of your own party who take from the poor and what use to be a middle class, including their jobs, and offer nothing in return, but you're willing to hand over everything to a few puppet masters at the top who really need absolutely nothing from any of us to get through life.

I have to ask why this is becoming a Democrat versus Republican issue. I think it's not about that. I think the original legislation was overreaching and that the company charging 10 cents for a toy when the proceeds will benefit charity isn't a bad thing.

People should have the right to make their own choices regarding food. Parents should be able to decide what is or is not right for their kids. And that means they can decide if a Happy Meal is or is not okay.

Yes they will keep charging the same. Because people are dumb enough to keep paying it. And you can go in and just buy the toys now if you want.

And you can also buy the meal without the toy or the box, the last time I studied the menu. It was listed in the regular menu area.

trust verify------ The Democratic politicians are the ones who rocked the boat. Go ask them for your ten cents and your toy.

Idiot

The line in the article is written somewhat abiguously... probably due to some liberal media agenda, or just failure by a public school to teach the article author how to write clearly.

ANYWAY, McD's used to offer a choice of burger/nuggets, small fry/apples, and soda/milk/juice (I think, maybe not juice... ). They stopped offering the choice of small fry or apples, and just replaced half the fries with apples in every HM instead.

It's effectively the same amount of food for the same price, it's just a bit more healthy now.

You could always buy the toy without the meal.

Yes, you can buy the toy without the meal. You always could.

As a 'liberal' (whatever that actually means), I agree with you. So what's the problem?

I am a "Liberal" also, yet I disagree with this law. Please, spare us the negative stereotypes. You are only making yourself look like an ignoramus by not doing so.

Mike and Shandril --- The problem is you are anomalies as far as liberals go.

Even more entertaining than the liberals' hypocrisy is the conservatives idea that teaching kids to be fat, indulgent slobs is in some way a better alternative. Personally, I'm all for less government involvement, especially funding for overweight, smoking, cancer and heart attack to be people. We should make fast food and cigarettes free!! That way, the stupid people will kill themselves off and we "hypocritical" liberals can live free of your conservative idiocy.

I'm a "Liberal", and yet I do believe that forcing a company to take a toy out of a fast food meal is a little too much. I can get with the idea of stopping cigarette companies from using cartoon mascots, but fast food toys? Come on people. The kid's parents have to buy the stupid food for them. Maybe if we could go back to the days where a kid shut up when their parents told them to, we wouldn't have so many kids that outweigh their grandparents.

A.k.a, Parents, tell your kids to stuff it when they start whining for McNuggets.

I'm a liberal and I disagree with this law. And you know what ticks me off about conservatives? They keep saying they want "small government" yet their social and foreign policies are clearly the "big brother" type.

Sorry to pile on.

I am a center-left guy (meaning I can actually find agreement on some subjects with my more conservative friends) and I think SF should take this law and shove it.

Yes, childhood obesity is a huge problem for this country, but what the hell happened to a parents' responsibility to raise their kids in a healthy, respectable, educated manner? My parents would tell my sister and I to sit down, shut up, and eat when they made something for dinner and we wanted McDonalds. It was a treat, not my family's 5-night a week personal chef.

I've been diagnosed with serious heart issues back in February of this year and I am 35. I've had McDonalds once since (for food, I have had a couple sodas while out running errands on the weekend) being released from the hospital. People need to learn self-control and to know the value of good health and teach that to their kids. Laws won't change that.

@gary-309869:
"The problem is you are anomalies as far as liberals go."

I wouldn't say they're anomolies... it's just that this "law" is just so stupid that, despite pretty much all of them being nuttier than squirrel turds, even liberals can see it.

@SPARTAN-501:
"...you know what ticks me off about conservatives? They keep saying they want "small government" yet their social and foreign policies are clearly the "big brother" type."

Conservatives (not to be confused with the republican party or GOP) want small government when it comes to how the latter inefficiently uses taxpayer money to provide for lazy, stupid people who are capable of working but refuse to unless they're given an over-inflated salary, and over-regulating business with cockamamie policies like this. The only "big brother" things they want are for national security reasons, which is all-together different.

Why is what a child eats anybody's business but the parents?

Well, to be honest, its because the expense of poor health habits developed in childhood don't become the parents responsibility. They wind up raising the cost of health care for everybody, regardless of whether recent changes to healthcare funding survive or not.

So, yes, there is a societal interest in teaching children good habits. The thirty-year-old 300 lb. heart-attack-waiting-to-happen developed their eating habits when they were much younger, supposedly under their parents watchful eyes. Pragmatically, this is a much less draconian, disruptive, and stigmatizing way of reducing such problems than the recent case where the morbidly obese child was put into foster care. Those of us who don't have much say in the child's developing habits, for which we will ultimately hold some level of financial responsibility, can only hope to influence their development through secondary means.

I suppose we could require parents to post a bond for their children's future health habits . . .

they have always sold their toys separately. the price is usually between 50 cents and a buck. the dime price is only if you get one with a happy meal.... (back in the beany baby frenzy, i worked for them. made about $12,000 buying cases of the rarer toys at 59 cents each, selling them for $10-25... wish craigslist had been around then, would have made tons more...)

we don't need the key, we'll break it. ;-)

When was the last time you went in and checked the menu? I see apple slices, juice, milk, higher grade beef, and broiled chicken. It's easy to make a healthy meal there, and they seem to try to keep up with food trends - great deals on flavored coffees, etc. I really feel for McDonald's sometimes, they are held as such a villain but I am always impressed with their quality, menus, and value. Even the insides of the restaurant, they tore ours down and put in a new one in the new style. I call it Ten Forward because it reminds me of Star Trek/Next Generation as far as aesthetics and function. I don't know what more anyone wants. They deserve their success.

I used to eat way too much fast food, but haven't had any in some time. It's just part of what I'm doing to control my weight. But let me be very clear -- it sure as heck wasn't McDonald's fault that I ate too much fatty foods. That was my doing, my choice, just as trying to avoid it now is my choice. And even still, the few times I end up there with family or friends, there are perfectly reasonable options for me.

Our choice -- nobody forces us to eat it or feed it to our family.

You haven't had anyone who had to stay at a Ronald McDonald House. We have friends whose son was born with spinal bifida, and they've had to stay at a number of the houses for his surgeries.

Thank you, McDonalds.

Well, Erik, the solution is very simple for you, don't eat there.

Erik -- Brilliant liberal analysis. You would deny the company the right to sell food to whomever wants to buy it. And you would put tens of thousands of individuals out of a job. Are you a member of the Obama team?

You're an adult Eric. Do you not have sense enough to stop eating when you've had enough? Can't you control what you eat? Last time I checked, they didn't have anybody with a gun at the door of McDonald's forcing people to sit down and eat a truckload.

Oh Tera, we need to talk. How overweight are you?

It's called choosing not to eat there.. McDonalds has been around for decades.. If kids are getting fat eating there, it's their parents fault for constantly taking them there. Sure I ate McDonald's growing up, but my parents didn't take me there everyday, not even every week for that matter.

Nintendo DS, PSP, etc... is the real silent promoter of childhood obesity, not necessarily fast food... (and man I'd be stuck to those things too if they were around when I was young... I mean the gameboy was addicting enough..)

Erik is right--it is not a good company but he isn't advocating it gets shut down but rather that we vote with our pocketbook. McDonald's championed detrimental business practices, like targeting children in their marketing since whining kids can strongly influence parents. Playgrounds, clowns and other cartoon mascots, toys in meals are what makes the allure of the whole experience of going to McDonalds so kid friendly which ultimately led to this regular over-indulgence rather than a once in awhile treat. This was no accident.

San Francisco was trying to point out that a toy is a ploy. They weren't banning Happy Meals themselves, just the lure. The "lure" comes back once there are certain dietary requirements are filled. Seems pretty damn simple to me. Besides, if the meal doesn't meet the minimal health requirement for a cheap Chinese-made toy that they are going to lose in a week, then why would you give it to your kids in the first place? And it takes months to put apples in a meal? Give me a break. Talk about personal responsibility.

Parents do have a right to be irresponsible with their kids dietary habits but this also trickles onto high costs for society when these unhealthy kids become sick adults increasing health care costs for all. Then it becomes my problem. Ever wonder why an 8-month old french fry found between the seats of your car cushion hasn't gotten mold or bio-degraded? That should be a big freaking flag that this isn't something that should be consumed, especially by kids.

Jimmy: Stop blaming obesity on fast food OR gaming. Neither is at fault. The parents are at fault for letting the child sit there and just play DS/PSP/etc for hours on end instead of making the game into a timed activity or reward option (do all homework, gain hour of playtime and such). I'm so tired of fast food, television, and video games being the scapegoats for obesity. It comes down to enforcing ground rules about them at a young age to encourage good habits involving those leisure activities.

"where kids can strongly influence parents". Bunk! The whole point of BEING a parent is to watch out over your children, not let THEM make the decisions for YOU! Seriously!! My parents didn't take us to McDonalds when we asked, if we did go, it was a rare occasion. The bottom line is nobody, I mean nobody, is FORCING people to eat at McDonald's. It's a personal choice. As for them having unhealthy food, no kidding, really? You mean french fries aren't healthy? Wow, who would have thunk it. Find a salad bar instead. I don't need the city, the government, big brother telling me what's good to eat and what isn't. I think I can decide for myself and my kids on my own, thank you very much!

Mcdonalds sell food. Fast food. If you make it your only food, your not bright. Sometimes I want a good greasy meal that is junk food. I go to mcdonalds.

Trying to force them to be something they are not is wrong. Trying to regulate every aspect of life, is wrong.

Tera 1025454 --- Last time I checked MSN a few days ago. There was a article about Mcdonalds changing thier egg suppliers because they were busted for unsanitary conditions. And you are talking about Quality? And there is coffee is a great deal? Enough said, I dont know why I am wasting keystrokes on this.

food isn't only defined by the amount of calories and fat. I never eat fast food, actually my wife and I eat out less then 10 times a year. We cook, everyday with whole ingredients and mostly vegetarian. I don't dislike mcdonalds any more then all the other junk food (sit down restaurants included). Know what you eat!

Softdude -- The McDonald's here in MD has the nutritionsl value on the bottom of the boxes.

i agree eric. as a shareholder, i love mcdonalds. yay for me! all you parents who can't control your kids and give in to eat mcdonalds bc it's fast, KEEP ON DOING IT. someone has to pay for my new car and my kids college.

What they should have banned is the 15% pink slime they and other fast food restaurants use in their burgers. Look it up, disgusting!

San Francisco is pretty weird, everyone pretty much points and laughs at them if you think about it. Lol not trying to be mean, it's kind of true.

Maybe rather than issuing food stamps for the poor, they should issue calorie stamps for everybody. If you exceed your limit, oh well. Hey, maybe the few Repubs there will inject a cap and trade policy for calorie stamps.

Regulating what people can or cannot buy is a COMMUNIST tradition.

Really? Do you people really have no understanding of US history? Are you able to legally purchase heroine?

You are fooling yourself if you believe that the US does not severely regulate many aspects of our lives, and has done so for generations.

What is heroine? Do you mean heroin? The last time a checked cheap plastic toys weren't illegal. How about enriched uranium? I don't think McDonald's sells drugs or radioactive materials.

I do argee we are over regulated and it hurts us financially. I don't want dirty air or water, however many of the regulations go way over the top.

What is heroine? Do you mean heroin?

Yes, but apparently my phone thought I meant something else and added an "e."

DYAC

Good healthy meals are cheaper than McDonald's food. The reason they eat at McD's is laziness, not poverty. Sorry, it's your own fault for getting fat.

Sometimes laziness results in poverty.

Parental Responsibility? Anyone? Anyone?

TEACH your kids. WATCH your kids. MENTOR your kids.

It's no one's fault but the parents if kids get fat. NO ONE forces you to feed them crap.... last I saw, you had to get dressed, go to the car, start the car, drive the car and go to McD's...... they don't deliver... they don't mail it.... so YOU go there and YOU eat it... a concious decision.....Not their fault you can't do it within limits.....

If you hate them so much... make sure your 401K doesn't have any in it...(most do)......

If they'd bother to check it out, the real reason kids are getting obese are video games, cell phones, computers, etc. Back in the day, when they started the happy meal, most kids would play with the toy and leave the food laying. And now, parents don't want to let their kids be kids. If they move around a little they're considered hyperactive and shipped off to some shrink for ridalin. Go figure. Take away the video games and cell phones for awhile, take them to a park or give them some chores, instead of patting poor little obese jimmy on the head and pitying him. Would solve a lot of it.

How about parents staying HOME and you know, using that room called a kitchen every once in a while and make their family something nutritious and healthy for dinner. I've seen some homes where the kitchen still looks like the day the house was built yet the kids look like those weighted bop bags.

Seriously, cook your kids a damn meal once in a while.

Sorry, family values are parenting properly including their nutrition. Do you need the government to raise your child?

Good healthy meals are NOT cheaper than McDonald's food. A bag of boneless, skinless chicken breast + the spices to put on it so it's not tasteless + 4 servings of fresh vegetables + 4 servings of a grain or pasta of some sort = optimistically $4 a person if you get everything on sale and have coupons. If you'd like to grill it, tack another couple hundred dollars onto the total for a grill and propane. Now pretend you're poor, less educated, and yes, often times lazy, and no one ever taught you how to actually cook a healthy meal. Suddenly $1 double cheeseburgers look pretty tempting, don't they?

Lest you think I disagree with you, I don't at all-- I'm just pointing out that the situations afforded to you aren't to everyone. Baking a nice crusted tilapia and grilling some asparagus is as foreign to some people as speaking Russian. I know 'personal responsibility' is a factor (and so help me God if I never hear that phrase it again it won't be soon enough), but you have to admit-- a lot of times we're pushed to live a certain way and it's packaged as 'personal responsibility,' in spite of what's being pushed on us.

If you're going to include the cost of a grill, then I would say you need to include a couple of thousand for a car, $4 a gallon for gas to drive to the McD's for that $1 cheeseburger. Add the fries and a soda, and you're talking more than $4 a person you estimated to stay home for a healthy meal.

You don't need a college education to know how to cook. And if you're really poor, you can shop at a food pantry. You don't need to buy a bag of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, you can buy a whole chicken much cheaper and take ten minutes to skin and debone it and use the rest of the chicken for other meals.

Rather than spend time and money trying to interfere with a private business, spend that energy teaching these poor, uneducated (liberal speak for stupid) people how to cook. Dr. Oz just had a show on making meals for pennies a serving.

Just had to take the liberal jab, didn't you? Since you made that assumption, I'll take the other side, and say it's just like a conservative to complain about how we all need personal freedom, then get mad when the less savory among us don't take those freedoms and do what the conservatives want. I want freedom to eat myself into an early grave! But by God when I take that freedom, I'm a stupid, lazy jerk. You should be celebrating the lazy, stupid and poor among us! They are literally taking the freedoms you want and running with them as far as humanly possible. They're the beacons for that lifestyle.

And what private business? McDonald's is publicly traded company. Either way, maybe their should get their deceptive marketing aimed toward children out of every aspect of our lives. But let me guess, you'll say, "Well if you don't like it, don't look," right? And people say liberals walk around with blinders on.

Oh, and $1 double cheeseburger + $1 value fries + $1 Coke (especially in the summer when that and ice tea are on sale) + $1.75 bus fare to get there = $4.75. So you're 75 cents over. Hardly the justification for a lazy person to debone an entire chicken. I'm not even remotely the people you take issue with, and I would not even debone an entire chicken over 75 cents' difference.

I'm not telling you to accept people as lazy, poor or uneducated and work around them, and let the quality of life deteriorate for everyone. I'm telling you WHY they might do what they do, so maybe instead of looking down upon them we can all maybe come up with solutions that actually work WITH them, instead of saying, "Well, here's your solution. It might not be at all realistic for you, but you'll do it or suffer.' It IS ok to manage people based on what THEY need sometimes. That doesn't make us all pansies or bleeding heart liberals or nanny state advocates. It just makes us people who are willing to listen to other people! You are a citizen of earth, right?

I don't care if anyone chooses to eat themselves into an early grave. I was simply addressing the comments that people eat at McD's because that's all they can afford or they're too stupid to know how to cook, sentiments usually voice by liberals.

If we're going to get rid of deceptive marketing aimed at children, we have to focus on more than just McD's. And then we have to get rid of deceptive marketing aimed at men, who might really believe opening that beer will instantly attract a bevy of scantily clad women -- or women, who might believe getting that floor sparkling clean will get you that glittering diamond you simply must have. Or we can trust that Americans can process information and make a decision without the government holding their hand.

And you don't have to debone a chicken, unless you want the bonless chicken breasts you mentioned and you can't afford them. Anyone can crack an egg or open up a jar of peanut butter and have a cheaper and healthier meal than McD's. It's not about poverty. It's not about protecting people. It's about control.

Well they're usually right, liberal or not. Junk food is cheap, plentiful and easy to access. I think the disconnect is often that more conservative types assume that liberals think the excuses of the lazy are acceptable, or, like you mention below, that it's a patronizing form of compassion. I like to think it's more so not focusing so much on what people should have done, and more so accepting what they are, and trying to fix the issue from there. There will always be crappy, neglectful parents and stupid people.

I don't want to the government holding my hand. Some of my happiest memories are of grocery store day with my mom; she would take me through the McD's drive-thru and get me a happy meal. I didn't get it every single time, and I didn't get to run around the playland while I ate (she would never), and I didn't even get cheese on my burger, or a Coke (she claimed it was a nightmare to take a caffeinated 5 year old to the store. Ya think?!) It saddens me to think that something potentially good could be marked as bad all across the board, to 'protect' people from themselves.

Advertising is ridiculous-- no doubt. But the idea is supposed to be that adults make their own decisions because they can tell the difference between an ad and their favorite show, whereas a child cannot. When you start marketing tactics on a kid, pushing brand loyalty and a desire for junk food and products that are inversely proportional to what doctors tell us promote healthy child development, that's a problem. Then you end up with generations of people like we have now. Lazy, misguided and unhealthy.

Why are liberals such control freaks?

Because they believe the people they feel such "compassion" for are nowhere near as intelligent or evolved as they are.

Now there's a laugh. lol Hillarious.

Why are liberals such control freaks?

Ooh! I love generalizations!

Why are conservatives such control freaks with what people do in their bedrooms? Why are they such perverts for always thinking about sex?

**This message brought to you by someone who is not a liberal**

Any you can't use plastic bags, or bottled water -- can't even buy a goldfish. I was born there, and I'm proud of that, but I'm sure glad I don't live there. Waaaaaaay off the deep end...

They charge a bit more... donate it all and get a write off! Way to go! Creative minds win again.....

Again... parental responsibility....

I grew up with Ronald...the Hamburgler....Cap'n Crunch (spun sugar I believe) and a host of other characters aimed right at kids... remember Saturday Morning Cartoons????? Non stop ads aimed right at kids.... Mom instilled healthy habits. We went to McD's as a TREAT... not often. Mom taught us. Like parents should. Not McDonalds fault parents are lazy. And for the record... has anyone looked at the Red Robin kids menu? Or any of their calorie counts???? It makes Happy Meals look like diet food.

I eat healthy.... exercise.... retired at 48..... and KNOW that eating fatty, crappy food all the time is not good... easy.... worked 60-80hrs per week and still found it easy enough to eat healthy enough. Nothing is good in excess... even water...

But as everyone can see from the current administration.... it's always someone elses fault.....

I can't believe you're sticking up for the government regulating what businesses can and can't sell.

Because Mike, we don't need the government running every facet of our lives and telling us how to raise our children. Especially since the federal government doesn't know its own anus from a hole in the ground.

I don't think Mike is calling for the government to raise our children. I think he's raising the issue that an alarming amount of food marketing toward children is manipulative and unethical, because small children don't know the difference between their regular shows and an ad whose purpose is to foster brand loyalty and a desire for food and products that often are in direct opposition to nutritional guidelines for healthy development. Those kids grow up with an instilled desire for things they developed an attachment to when they're young-- shouldn't those things be family and reading and friends and playing outside, instead of cheeseburgers and french fries and Coke and cheap plastic toys?

I have no issues with the existence of McDonald's, and I don't think Mike does, either. What I do take issue with is highly-developed marketing tactics aimed at children who don't know any better, encouraging them to develop bad habits for life. Of course, you can let the personal responsibility monster rear its ugly head and say, 'Well then don't let your kids watch tv,' but you can't shelter them from tv at their friends houses, billboards, signs, toys, kids at school, product placement in movies, etc. They will see it, and they will be influenced by it. There is responsibility on the parents' part-- absolutely! But please, please don't put that all on yourself, because it excuses the wrongdoing taking place by companies trying to make little customers out of unsuspecting children.

MP: So, you think that "personal resposibility" is a "monster"? Wow, you have a very jaded sense of values, and that's OK, but don't try and place your miss-directed ideas anywhere near me. Private enterprise is one of the benchmarks of a free society. If you don't like the food, don't buy it, it's as simple as that.

It's all in the marketing... and the soda is a CHOICE the parent's make..... they come with milk in most cities..... At least in Texas and surrounding states.....

There is little doubt that eating McDonald's from time to time is fine.

However, there is also little debate whether McDonalds food is actually bad or not. Its bad... no doubt about it. Sure, some foods that are good for one person can be bad for another. However McDonalds does not fit into that catagory. There is nothing healthy about a fry from McDonalds... and there is not one person out there would will recieve a health benefit from it.

Hey, I eat at McDonalds at least one every couple weeks... so I'm in no position to tell people how to eat. At the same time however, I'm not going to use idiotic logic (such as your whole graid or dairy comparison which made me laugh) to argue that McDonalds might actually be healthy. Its not, and there is no real argument that it is or ever will be.

Of course we know what is making people fat. They are eating too much. You are how much you eat. Eat less, and there will be less of you. Simple. Doesn't matter if it is "healthy" food or not. A calorie is a calorie. Your metabolism determines how many you need to eat each day to maintain your weight. Eat too many of them, and you will be fat. Eat fewer, you'll lose weight. Its not rocket science.

Good point, JohnCarter. I've been making a similar argument with people regarding the obesity issue. I use my brother as an example. He is about 40-50 pounds overweight. He eats WAY TOO MUCH FOOD. It doesn't really matter what he's eating............... he eats too much volume. I tell people that portion size should be the first thing you change. Don't worry about fried vs. grilled, veggie vs. meat, etc. Start by weening yourself down on the volume of food you intake. It's insane how much people eat.

Agreed with all of you -- it's called moderation in eating, both in what you eat and how much you eat. In a market-driven economy, consumers will continue to buy what they like, whether it's healthy or not. The same can be said for cigarettes and alcohol -- both of which will never be banned from SF or any other city because of the tax revenue windfalls. In the final analysis, parents -- and adults -- have the final say in what they and their children will eat. It's not the government's duty to meddle in a free market and make decisions for consumers that they feel is in our best interest. I'm not a McDonald's sympathizer by any stretch, but in this case -- Bravo for them!

I am all for our freedom of choice, that the government shouldn't control what we have access to if we want it, but this is not about allowing us to freely choose; it is about manipulating our children through advertising. And boy do I wish that actual personal choice was what created the demand.

We have all seen the data on obesity in the U.S. If adults choose to eat poorly, that is on them, but many parents do not have the knowledge or will to fully protect their children, if eliminating the toy from the meal helps that, so be it. If a locally elected government decides that they don't want to allow this, the people through representative govt have spoken.

Advertising has been honed to a science, and particularly w/children who haven't had the time to develop the right critical skills, to call their choosing a Happy Meal personal choice is off the mark. I can't think of how many times my kids when they were a little younger would want to go to McDonalds for food, all for the toy. They didn't even like the food after they got it, much of that eventually got thrown away. When I told them we could go to Mickey D's, but no happy meals, we would get burgers or a large order of nuggets and split them, all interest in McDonalds vanished.

Flipping the argument a bit, if it were about personal choice and the food vs. getting the family into the door via the kids, why would McDonalds work so hard at getting the toy back into the mix through a slick promotion w/the toy for a dime and then kicking the diime back to their charity? I wonder what would happen if I just went to a McDonalds there and said I wanted to buy all their toys for a dime each w/out buying the kids meal?