Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act
Encyclopedia
The American
Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, also known as the Cheeseburger Bill, sought to protect producers and retailers of foods—such as McDonald's Corporation—from an increasing number of suits and class action
suits by obese consumers. To date these suits have been turned down by the courts, sometimes in strong terms. The Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
in March 2004, but did not receive a Senate
vote.
The bill was reintroduced in 2005 by Florida
Republican Congressman Ric Keller
. Keller had taken the maximum level of PAC
donations up to $300,000 for his personal campaign funding from restaurants including McDonalds, Wendys and Burger King. On October 19, 2005, it once again passed the House with a 306-120 vote although Keller actually missed the vote due to being rushed to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrhythmya. Once again, it failed to achieve a Senate
vote.
Using precedent and expertise from suits brought in the 1990s against tobacco corporations, lawyers such as John Banzhaf hope to use the courts to pressure the food industry into providing more prominent health advisory information about its products. Banzhaf, founder of Action on Smoking and Health
or ASH, argues that the joint liability established between tobacco companies and smokers will soon be recognized as being similarly applicable in the case of food retailers and their customers. He anticipates that more health warnings would change consumer behavior, contributing to a solution to the obesity epidemic.
Many state legislatures have considered their own versions of the bill.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, also known as the Cheeseburger Bill, sought to protect producers and retailers of foods—such as McDonald's Corporation—from an increasing number of suits and class action
Class action
In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...
suits by obese consumers. To date these suits have been turned down by the courts, sometimes in strong terms. The Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in March 2004, but did not receive a Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
vote.
The bill was reintroduced in 2005 by Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Republican Congressman Ric Keller
Ric Keller
Richard Anthony "Ric" Keller is an American politician, and was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing .Keller was defeated in his bid for a fifth term by Democrat Alan Grayson....
. Keller had taken the maximum level of PAC
Political action committee
In the United States, a political action committee, or PAC, is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation. Legally, what constitutes a "PAC" for purposes of regulation is a...
donations up to $300,000 for his personal campaign funding from restaurants including McDonalds, Wendys and Burger King. On October 19, 2005, it once again passed the House with a 306-120 vote although Keller actually missed the vote due to being rushed to the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrhythmya. Once again, it failed to achieve a Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
vote.
Using precedent and expertise from suits brought in the 1990s against tobacco corporations, lawyers such as John Banzhaf hope to use the courts to pressure the food industry into providing more prominent health advisory information about its products. Banzhaf, founder of Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health
Action on Smoking and Health is the name of a number of autonomous pressure groups/charities throughout the world which seek to publicize the risks associated with tobacco smoking and campaigns for greater restrictions on cigarette and tobacco sales....
or ASH, argues that the joint liability established between tobacco companies and smokers will soon be recognized as being similarly applicable in the case of food retailers and their customers. He anticipates that more health warnings would change consumer behavior, contributing to a solution to the obesity epidemic.
Many state legislatures have considered their own versions of the bill.
External links
- Article from food industry boosters Center for Consumer Freedom
- Prof. John F. Banzhaf IIIJohn F. Banzhaf IIIJohn Francis Banzhaf III is an American legal activist and a law professor at George Washington University Law School. He is the founder of the smoking pressure group Action on Smoking and Health....
's obesity activism homepage - BBC News OnlineBBC News OnlineBBC News Online is the website of BBC News, the division of the BBC responsible for newsgathering and production. The website is the most popular news website in the United Kingdom and forms a major part of BBC Online ....
: US approves 'Cheeseburger bill'