Summary
10 November 2010
San Francisco has passed a law banning fast-food restaurants from giving away toys with some children's meals. Supporters say many fast-food meals are very unhealthy, but McDonald's called the legislation misguided.
Reporter:
Rajesh Mirchandani
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It could spell the end of the Happy Meal, the fast-food snack that's a hit with children at McDonald's, because it comes with a free toy. City leaders in San Francisco argued the same meals also come with too many calories and they say that has added to a situation where nearly 20% of American children are obese.
Now San Francisco has become the first major US city to ban fast-food restaurants from giving away toys with meals that don't meet nutritional guidelines. In future, you'll only get the toy if you buy a healthy snack.
The burger giant McDonald's sent senior executives to the city to oppose the measure. In a statement, the company said: ''Parents tell us it's their right and responsibility, not the government's, to make their own decisions and to choose what's right for their children.''
McDonald's, Burger King and 15 other food companies have signed up to self-regulate how they advertise food to youngsters.
Rajesh Mirchandani, 大象传媒 News
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Vocabulary
- spell the end of
mean the end of
- a hit
very popular
- calories
units measuring energy in food
- added to
increased the impact or significance of
- obese
very fat, in an unhealthy way
- nutritional guidelines
recommendations for healthy eating
- burger giant
large company that sells fast-food
- measure
official action (in this case, a new law)
- signed up
agreed to or accepted
- self-regulate
monitor and control themselves
