How banning Happy Meals could make kids fatter

Harvard Business Review Blogs ,
08 November, 2010

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News from Tuesday's election that after months of debate, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors has effectively banned the Happy Meal. If you want to buy a kids meal at McDonald's (or elsewhere that includes a toy), that meal will have to satisfy certain nutritional guidelines, including caps on sodium and the inclusion of half cups of fruit or vegetables. The move is aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

Let me preface my comments by saying that I share the goal of trying to promote healthier eating, and also believe that parental choice is not nece… [Read Full Text]

Joshua Gans

Professor of Management
Innovation Research Program, Centre for Ideas and The Economy