McDonald's Happy Meals Will Cost 10cents for Toy

McDonalds, San Fransisco, will now charge 10 cents to get a toy along with a Happy Meal. A new law which will come into effect from 1st December 2011, prohibits fast-food restaurants from including toy giveaways with children's meals that do not meet nutritional guidelines for sodium, calories and fat. However, this marketing ploy by McDonalds will not be making Happy Meals healthier, but just more expensive if you want a toy.

Toy giveaways made children clamor for the unhealthy happy meals and contributed to high childhood obesity rates. According to the new ordinance toys can be offered with a kid's meal only if the servings have less than 600 calories, a drink option that is not too sugary or fatty and also includes a serving of fruits and vegetables.

McDonald's has taken to improve the nutritional quality of its Happy Meals by reducing the amount of French fries and adding fruit, among other things, but they still did not meet the standards set in the city's regulation, and therefore could not include free toys in the meals.

Source: Medindia