The First Law to Regulate Food Choice Has Been Passed in San Francisco

Specific Purpose: To inform the audience of this current event.

Central Idea: The first law to regulate food choice has been passed in San Francisco.

Desired Response: As a result my listeners will know what this particular law that was recently passed, why it was passed, and the reactions of U.S. citizens.

Introduction

I would like to ask you a question (gesture with arms to the whole room). How many of you have a childhood experience that involves McDonalds? As a child living in the USA there are few and far between that have not eaten a happy meal. Ronald McDonald's dream has long sustained the turning of the years. Hardly changing at all, the golden-arches and the happy meal have been an adopted tradition, until now. San Francisco has made a move and successfully passed a law that no longer permits toys to be given out in happy meals...unless, the meal meets certain guidelines. I would like to talk to you about why the law was passed, what exactly it entails, and how the country has responded.

(Transition: So what inspired this movement and who is behind it?)

Body

I. According to the Sharon Bernstein from Las Angeles Times, Eric Mar, the supervisor and sponsor for the bill was quoted as saying "From San Francisco to New York City, the epidemic of childhood obesity in this country

Running head: Food Police 3

is making our kids sick, particularly kids from low income neighborhoods, at an alarming rate. It's a survival issue and a day-to-day issue."

A. Mayor Gavin Newsom, of San Francisco was one of the few against the bill planning to veto it until November 2, 2010 when the rest of San Francisco's board voted 8-3 overriding his veto, now officially passing ordinance to ban restaurants from offering free toys with unhealthy meal options. The law will be in effect December of 2011. Newsom quotes "Parents, not politicians, should decide what their children eat, especially when it comes to spending their own money," Newsom said.

(Transition: Regardless of politics, we need to know who this law is for and what it means.)

II. Although this is enforced to all food establishments in the surrounding area, McDonald's "Happy Meal" is the obvious target because of its long history of collectables and that being the reason why most children are attracted to it.

A. The supervising board does not want to get rid of the toys altogether but instead they created guidelines in which a toy are permitted. The idea is that children will pick the healthy option in order to gain a toy.

B. The healthy and prize worthy option must be contain Less than 600 calories, Less than 640 milligram of sodium, fat less than 35 percent of calories from fat; Less than 10 percent from saturated fat (with exception for nuts, seeds, eggs or low-fat cheese) and at least half a cup of fruit or three-quarters