The quick-service restaurant industry scored a victory Wednesday, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill banning obesity-related lawsuits against food manufacturers, marketers, distributors, advertisers, sellers, and trade associations.
The bill, officially called the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act of 2005 (H.R. 554) but dubbed the “Cheeseburger Bill”, was introduced by Representative Ric Keller (R – FL) and passed by a vote of 306–120 in the Republican-controlled house. The battle is far from over, though, as this marks the second time House lawmakers have passed such a ban. An identical bill, passed in March 2004, was never acted upon by the Senate, and Senate Republican leaders have hinted that the same fate could await the new measure.