While turning 30-years-old isn’t usually something people celebrate, when it’s a product, that’s pretty impressive. You know what you should do when a product turns that old? Decide to treat it like the greatest threat to children ever.

As I’ve been covering before, it seems that everyone and their dog has decided that the toys packed in Happy Meals are produced by Satan himself.  From bans to lawsuits, it seems everyone is after those toys that come in the kid’s meals.  According to SF Weekly, last night while you were watching the election results, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors passed a ban on the toys effective in Dec. 2011.  The vote 8-3, making it veto proof, an action San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom had promised to take if this passed.

The new ban says that no toys may be included as a promotion in any meal that is more than a total of 600 calories, including the drink, and they must have less than 35 percent of their calories come from fat.  Adding insult to injury, the promoted meal must also include fruits and vegetables.

Speaking to Reuters, San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure, said, ”Our children are sick. Rates of obesity in San Francisco are disturbingly high, especially among children of color.”  He went on to add, ”This is a challenge to the restaurant industry to think about children’s health first and join the wide range of local restaurants that have already made this commitment.”

Danya Proud, a spokeswoman for McDonalds, told the news service, “We are extremely disappointed with today’s decision. It’s not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for.”  She went on to add, ”Getting a toy with a kid’s meal is just one part of a fun, family experience at McDonald’s.”

Look, I understand obesity is out of control in this country, but dictating to businesses what they can do to promote their wares, in a totally legal way mind you, is just absurd.  Taking away the toys will not make kids eat healthier no matter how much you try to fool yourself.  Kids are suddenly going to stop despising vegetables and eat them because they now come with a toy?  HAH!

This ordinance, like so many others we have seen (we’re looking at you Baltimore!) is just another case of the government turning into a nanny state.  How about you try educating the populace on healthy eating as opposed to instating some ban that will have absolutely no impact on childhood obesity rates.  Is this going to stop kids from eating candy bars?  From drinking sodas?  From plopping down on the couch after school with a bag of chips?  No, it isn’t, but oh happy days, you got rid of the evil Happy Meal toys!  The world is saved!

You know, why stop with banning the toys?  How about you just start dictating all the menu items?  I mean, you know what’s best for everyone apparently, so why not just start saying that restaurants can’t sell burgers with cheese, or bacon … or meat … or bread … why, all restaurants in San Francisco must now be tofu joints or salad bars (but mind the dressing!).

Some people are crowing what a victory is for the kids out there … tell ya what, when they move on to banning some other useless item that has absolutely no impact, come back and talk to me.  Maybe you’ll finally realize educating people as opposed to taking away choices is where the smart people are.