NY councilman wants ban on kid toys in high-calorie meals

 A New York city councilman wants to ban toys in fast-food restaurant kid meals that do not meet strict dietary guidelines, AFP reports.

Democrat Ben Kallos introduced a bill Thursday that would ban the toys from a child's meal if the food serving contains more than 500 calories and more than 600 milligrams of sodium.

The measure would also encourage including one half-cup of fruit or vegetables, or a serving of whole-grain products.

Under the proposal, violators would be fined between $200 and $500 for their first offense, no more than $1,000 for the second violation, and up to $2,500 for subsequent violations.

Former mayor Michael Bloomberg famously failed in his 2012 attempt to limit the size of giant sodas, so prospects are slim for Kallos's measure.

On average, 17 percent of children and teens in the United States are overweight or obese, according to figures from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.