Chile aims at obesity by banning sale of unhealthy food in schools and with toys

HEALTH

Chile aims at obesity by banning sale of unhealthy food in schools and with toys

The Associated Press Published Monday, June 27, 2016 3:12PM EDT

Toys that come with Happy Meals are showcased at a McDonald's restaurant in Santiago, Chile, on June 22, 2016. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

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SANTIAGO, Chile - Chile seeks to fight one of the world's highest rates of childhood obesity with a new food labeling law.

The law came into force Monday. The Health Ministry orders labels to be placed on food that is high in sugar, calories, sodium and saturated fat. It also bans the sale of any of those products in schools as well as advertisements for them that target children under 14. They also cannot be sold with a toy.

McDonald's modified its Happy Meal in Chile to follow the law that experts say will be one of the most demanding of its kind.

Italy's Ferrero has threatened to take legal action against the South American country to protect its Kinder Surprise chocolate-shelled eggs beloved by children for the small toy inside.