Community Corner

New Food for Thought: Banning Toys from Happy Meals

Councilman Leroy Comrie is sponsoring a bill to discontinue to the inclusion of toys with any meal over 500 calories.

A proposal to ban the sale of toys with high calorie meals has brought about supersized reactions at McDonalds restaurants in Queens.

Councilman Leroy Comrie, D-St. Albans, who reportedly struggles with his own weight of over 300 pounds, last week announced that he is sponsoring a Council bill to prohibit the inclusion of toys with any meal over 500 calories, or any single food item over 200 calories.

"Prohibiting fast food restaurants from giving out toys with highly unhealthy meals will reduce the allure of such establishments for children while hopefully incentivizing the fast food industry to provide their customers with healthier and more nutritious options," said Comrie.

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City Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, D-Forest Hills, said she supported the measure in the interest of childrens' health.

“Childhood obesity is a major problem in our country and we need to do everything we can to fight this epidemic," Koslowitz said. "I support this legislation and the conversation that it begins, as the healthcare crisis caused from childhood obesity must be addressed.”

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There are two McDonald's locations in Forest Hills, both in areas that are easily accessible to children coming home from school or near playgrounds. One is on Metropolitan Avenue, the other is at the corner of Continental Avenue and Austin Street.

“Ban ‘em,” said Chad McTigue, who had just pushed aside the last of his two Filet-O-Fish sandwiches at the on Northern Blvd. at 203rd St. “I got an eight-year-old kid. It’s making the kids want them, then they get fat.” He never brings his son to fast food outings, he said.

Sitting on the other side of the restaurant’s upper level, a young adult, Ashley Roman, who was chomping on McNuggets, doubted McTigue’s premise.

“It’s not about the toy, it’s about the food,” Roman said.

A cashier at that location said as many as half the kids who come into the restaurant ask their parent to buy just the toy — no food — which the parents oblige.

"My son got weaned off McNuggets when he was 12. Before that, he wouldn't eat anything else," said Naeem Ahmed, inside the on Northern Blvd. in Little Neck.

Ahmed said his son has had weight issues ever since. Despite this, Ahmed said he was unsure as to what the best solution to the problem of childhood obesity would be. 

"I don't know if I would go all the way of banning it entirely," he said of 's Happy Meals. 

"While I recognize that ensuring that children have access to, and eat more, nutritious meals is ultimately the responsibility of their caretakers,” said Comrie, “the City Council can empower parents by making it harder for the fast food industry to target children with predatory marketing techniques.”

Councilman Dan Halloran, R-Whitestone, was skeptical of his colleague’s proposal.

“Our children should instead be taught the discipline to say ‘no’ to Happy Meals and make responsible decisions about what they eat,” said Halloran, adding, “All New Yorkers should have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of Happy Meals.” 


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