Recently, Santa Clara County in California decided to pass a new statute outlawing toys from fast food meals. McDonald's "Happy Meals" and their fast food counterparts encourage children to eat unhealthy food, they say. This is just one step in the fight against childhood obesity.
On the other side of the country, a Boston group called Corporate Accountability International, the same group that put Joe Camel into exile, is fighting to ban Ronald McDonald from advertising. A kid-friendly character tempts young children into consuming all that greasy food.
In New York, an effort is underway by State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz to ban salt from restaurants. "It's time for us to take a giant step," said Ortiz. "We need to talk about two ingredients of salt: health care costs and deaths." The salt-ban is a logical follow-up to the ban on trans-fats, which many states have already put into place. Or, for that matter, smoking in private establishments.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2010.