Despite growing opposition from parents and consumer choice advocates, who believe the toy ban is an overreach of government and an affront to parents’ rights, it is picking up steam. In New York, state officials–including the State’s Health Czar– are now on the record, supporting the measure and considering its implementation statewide:

New York City Councilman Leroy Comrie introduced the bill that would give the New York City Council the authority to dictate the recipes for meals served at any type of food establishment that included an incentive item for a child–this has been dubbed the “Toy Ban.”

These days it seems every politician is anointing themselves a Nutritionist Czar. Mr. Comrie modeled the legislation after measures passed recently in San Francisco and Santa Clara County, California. And, like California, New York is using millions in federal tax dollars to fund their big government agenda.

Want to believe that this only applies to McDonald’s and those evil fast food restaurants?

“Restaurant” shall mean any coffee shop, cafeteria, luncheonette, sandwich stand, diner, short order café, fast food establishment, soda fountain, and any other eating or beverage establishment, which gives or offers for sale food or beverages to the public, guests, members, or patrons, whether food or beverages are customarily consumed on or off the premises.

Toy bans are not going to help kids who suffer from obesity. Individual solutions to our kids’ health will be determined by parents who can seek the advice of medical and health professionals, not in the offices of politicians and unelected government bureaucrats. It would better serve us all if government focused on fulfilling its essential responsibilities and get out of the business of running our lives.