Fast-food companies are asking U.S. state legislators to remove restaurant marketing from local governments’ regulatory menu, in the latest industry bid to stay a step ahead of anti-obesity laws.
The lobbying push, which has succeeded in Arizona and gained traction in Florida, aims to stop marketing restrictions before they start. The efforts come as food companies face increasing scrutiny from the U.S. government over how they pitch their products to youngsters as obesity rates rise.
Last year San Francisco became the first major city to require that McDonald’s Happy Meals and other restaurants’ meals for children meet certain nutritional standards before they can be sold with toys.