A committee in Florida's state Senate on Wednesday passed a
measure aimed at preventing local governments from enacting bans on
toy giveaways by fast-food restaurants, the Orlando Sentinel
reported.
The Senate commerce and tourism committee voted 5-1 in favor of
a bill containing the provision, which had been added late and
without debate. It calls for blocking any local regulation of
"matters related to the nutritional content and marketing of foods
offered in such establishments."
The language had been requested by the Florida Restaurant and
Lodging Association, whose 10,000 members include fast-food giants
McDonald's Corp. (MCD), Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC) and
others.
Richard Turner, a lobbyist for the trade group, told the
newspaper after Wednesday's vote that restaurants want to pre-empt
local laws such as those that have begun cropping up in California
that ban fast-food outlets from distributing toys with meals and
other high-calorie offerings aimed at children.
Full story at
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/os-xgr-fast-food-toy-giveaways-20110309,0,4147260.story
-Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2900
