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'Happy Meal' not so happy in Silicon Valley, USA
'Happy Meal' not so happy in Silicon Valley, USA
By Franchise Central on June 2, 2010
McDonald's will struggle to justify the 'happy' in Happy Meal as lawmakers in Silicon Valley have passed a law to put a stop to giving away free toys in kids meals.
Santa Clara County's Board of Supervisors passed a bill that would force restaurants to set basic nutritional standards for children's meals,whilst only allowing them to give away toys that meet these criteria.
Although there have been healthier alternatives offered by fast food giants, critics still claim not enough is being done to fight the childhood obesity epidemic that is plaguing the developed nation.
However not everyone agrees with this law being forced upon restaurant owners. This has raised eyebrows of concerned industry representatives that question the idea of restaurant owners having to play nanny and be responsible for the diet choices made by customers.
Jot Condie, president of the California Restaurant Association,says "Ultimately, parents decide what their children eat and whether a meal includes a toy or not, and that is the role of a parent. The county government does not need to serve as the parent of the parents."
The issue of parents making the responsible choice versus companies providing responsible choices has been one that has stood out in many industries. It is now a matter of how far people are willing to go to fight for their side, creating a delicate balance between freedom of choice and responsibility.