Chile bans fast food chains from giving away toys to children
The Chilean government has issued a new law banning all fast food chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, KFC... operating in the country from giving away toys in children's meals.
A McDonald's Happy Meal. Photo: AP
Senator Giudo Girardi, who proposed the law, said the ban was introduced because nearly 25% of Chilean children aged six and above are obese. The ban was enacted despite lobbying from fast food corporations.
“These corporations threatened that if the law was passed, they would no longer invest money in funds for children, the sick or athletes. But in the end, we created an alliance between civil society and scientists to defeat these lobbyists,” said Senator Giradi.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (Washington DC, USA) sued McDonald's in 2010 for using toys as a marketing tool for its food to children. However, the court dismissed this accusation in April this year.
Stores in San Francisco and New York last year banned McDonald's from including toys in meals high in salt, fat and sugar. But McDonald's continues to offer the toys by charging customers a small fee to buy them.
It was his experience in two American cities that helped Mr. Giradi draft his fast food law.
Activist Sara Deon of Corporate Responsibility International, which has campaigned for bans in
According to SGTT-M
