California MEdical Association
Healthy Fast Food Children’s Meals
Author: Adam Schickedanz, MD
Resolution: 110-11
Adopted: October 17, 2011
WHEREAS, San Francisco County and Santa Clara County have enacted legislation requiring that fast food chain restaurants’ children’s meals adhere to appropriate nutritional standards for 2 children if they include a toy or promotional item; and
WHEREAS, these children’s meal nutritional standards are similar to those recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the Institute of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, children’s preferences for foods are influenced by marketing techniques such as branded toys and promotions in fast food children’s meals; food marketing to children infrequently encourages healthy food choices; and there are close interrelationships between food, childhood weight, and health; and
WHEREAS, health care professionals have great credibility among policymakers and an increasingly health-conscious business community, especially as we treat more food and nutrition related disease among children, including rising rates of obesity and its related complications; therefore be it
RESOLVED: That CMA recommend chain restaurant adherence to appropriate nutritional standards for their meals that are marketed specifically to children, especially those that include a toy or promotional item; and be it further
RESOLVED: That CMA support that meals marketed to children should adhere to healthy guidelines for total calories, fat calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and fruit and vegetable content in accordance with the best available evidence and/or well- researched national nutrition standards such as the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
