Food & Beverage Litigation & Regulatory Update

Tag: fast food

  • New York Bill Would Allow Toys in Fast-Food Meals Meeting Nutritional Requirements

    New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera (D-Bronx) has introduced a bill (S7849-2011) that would require fast-food restaurants offering incentive items, such as toys, with children’s meals to meet certain nutritional guidelines. The standards, designed to limit the amount of fat, sugar, calories, and sodium per meal, would be established by the state health commissioner. “Incentive…

  • Study Allegedly Supports NYC Trans Fat Ban

    A recent study has reportedly concluded that a New York City regulation restricting the use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oil by all food service establishments “was associated with a substantial and statistically significant decrease in the trans fat content of purchases at fast-food chains, without a commensurate increase in saturated fat.” Sonia Angell, et al.,…

  • Consumer Watchdog Groups Urge PBS to Stop Chick-fil-A Promotions

    The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), Public Citizen and Corporate Accountability International are reportedly urging the PBS network to “end a four-year marketing agreement between the popular children’s show ‘Martha Speaks’ and the fast food chain Chick-fil-A.” The marketing agreement includes 15-second ads for the restaurant before and after the show and in-store giveaways…

  • Corporate Accountability International Targets Fast-Food Toys

    Corporate Accountability International (CAI) has issued a May 2012 report that purportedly aims “to help parents, community residents, health professionals, activists, youth and others take action to safeguard their communities’ health against the abuses of global fast food corporations.” Outlining four policy approaches intended to reduce the “harmful influence of fast food corporations,” the report…

  • Fast-Food Customers Who Read Calorie Postings Make Lower-Calorie Selections

    The British Medical Journal has published a study that sought to “assess the impact of fast food restaurants adding calorie labeling to menu items on the energy content of individual purchases.” According to the researchers, including an independent consultant and a city official, the more than 8,400 adults interviewed in 2009 did not overall purchase…

  • Minnesota Governor Vetoes “Cheeseburger Bill”

    Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton (D) has vetoed legislation (House File 264/ Senate File 160) aimed at giving fast-food chains civil immunity if consumers gain weight after consuming their products. “Unfortunately, this bill provides to companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell food and nonalcoholic beverages civil immunity, except for: ‘any other material violation of federal or…

  • McDonald’s Declines to Retire Iconic Clown

    McDonald’s Corp. investors have reportedly rejected a shareholder proposal that asked the company to prepare a report assessing the role of fast food in “childhood obesity, diet-related diseases and other impacts on children’s health.” Led by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, which apparently owns $2,000 in company stock, the proposal coordinated with an…

  • New York City to Consider Ban of Toy Giveaways in Restaurant Meals

    New York City Council Member Leroy Comrie (D) has introduced a bill (Int. No. 530) that would ban toy giveaways in restaurant meals deemed high in calories, sodium and fat. Amending the city’s administrative code “in relation to setting nutrition standards for distributing incentive items aimed at children,” the bill mirrors a similar San Francisco…