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Bill limits food makers liability

Cities would not be able to pass local laws that restrict the sale of large sodas under the bill, which also bars lawsuits against food manufacturers based on claims a product lead to obesity.

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Diet soda
By
Mark Binker
RALEIGH, N.C. — Cities and counties would not be able to ban the sale of sugary drinks under a bill that passed the House Judiciary A Committee late Wednesday.

The measure would also bar lawsuits against food manufacturers and producers based on claims that a product led to weight gain or obesity. 

"Has a lawsuit of this kind ever been filed in North Carolina?" asked Rep. Deborah Ross, D-Wake.

Bill sponsor Rep. Brian Brown, R-Pitt, said he couldn't speak to suits in North Carolina.

"They have been filed nationwide," he said. "This is a (law) that will be helpful to restrict those types of frivolous lawsuits in the future and really drive home the personal accountability aspects of North Carolina's business-friendly lifestyle."

Ross and other Democrats said North Carolina already has laws to prevent frivolous lawsuits, but Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford, suggested that such "Rule 11 actions" were "toothless."

The restriction on cities has been informally dubbed the "Bloomberg Bill," a reference to the New York mayor who led the push to restrict the sale of large-sized sugary beverages there.

The measure passed committee 8-5. It next goes to the House floor.

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