Eateries Fend Off Nutrition Labels (2/2)

Some restaurants fear they could lead to more lawsuits against restaurants, said Carol Dover, president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. If a restaurant normally uses low-fat butter in foods, what happens if it suddenly runs out of it and substitutes with higher-fat butter? Most likely, the entree will have more fat than the menu says. Dover asked: Will an aggressive lawyer sue? Plus, she said putting the fat and calorie totals on a menu probably doesn't influence many people anyway. Labels on groceries haven't stopped people from becoming fat, she said. While nutrition labeling bills languish, state legislatures have been quicker to pass so-called "cheeseburger bills," which protect restaurants from obesity-related lawsuits. U.S. Rep. Ric Keller, R-Orlando, has introduced an obesity bill called the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act. It has passed the House but not the Senate, said Keller's chief of staff, Bryan Malenius. "When you go to a restaurant, you have a decision to make," Malenius said. "When Ric and I go to Wendy's, do we order a triple cheeseburger with fries, or a salad and a Diet Coke?" Generally, big restaurant companies such Outback Steakhouse and Darden Restaurants have stayed out of the obesity legislation battles and allowed the National Restaurant Association to speak for them. However, Outback Steakhouse was among several restaurant companies that contributed to the pro-restaurant Center for Consumer Freedom. http://www.tampatrib.com//MGBN27DMRFE.html