NYC Mulls Ban on Unhealthy 'Happy Meals'

New York City Councilman Leroy Comrie wants the Big Apple to mull a ban on MacDonald’s restaurant’s iconic “Happy Meals” and other fast food items targeting children -- unless those tasty treats pass nutritional standards.

San Francisco already has such a measure on the books, according to CBS New York.

Comrie’s bill would make it mandatory that menu items that come with toy prizes serve up just 500 calories and feature low sodium and reduced fat content. Fines for violating the new rules would range from $200 to $2,500 for restaurants that persist in using toy lures to sell unhealthy meals.

“As you know, and I’m an example, nearly one-third of all children in New York City and throughout the United States are either overweight or obese,” Comrie said.

Meanwhile, Mason Smoot, vice president and general manager for McDonald’s in the New York Metro Area counters: “Our Happy Meals make it easier for families to choose the right foods in portions just for kids. We provide options for our customers and trust them to make the decisions that are right for their families. Politicians should too.”