California continues to take strides towards becoming the healthiest of America’s 50 states as its largest city considers a temporary ban on fast-food. The Los Angeles city council has been discussing testing the ban in the Southern region of the city where the fast-food market makes up an overwhelming 73% of all restaurants. The city council argues, despite opposition from the California Restaurant Association, that by not allowing other fast-food chains to open for one year, eateries offering healthier options will be given a better opportunity to introduce their fare to residents. Rising obesity rates and concern over the general health of south LA residents led to the introduction of the suspension.

The CRA on the other hand has immediately come out in disagreement with what the city council is proposing. According to their officials, the types of restaurants the city is looking to lure to the area have never shown interest in locating there and predict that a simple ban on fast-food will be no help in changing this attitude. In addition to the possible fast-food ban, the entire state recently adopted a law that effectively bans trans-fats from all food by the year 2011. Since being sworn into office 5 years ago, Governor Schwarzenegger has been an advocate for health and safety, signing a number of landmark bills into law regarding the environment and the well being of California citizens. Attempts by the California legislature to improve the quality of life for their residents have not gone unnoticed by the rest of the country but not all agree with the measures.

According to the CRA, it is not up to the city to decide what their residents can and can not eat and restaurants definitely can not be held responsible for the eating habits of their patrons. The decision is in the hands of individuals and if fast-food is what they want, fast-food is what they’ll get.

Source: MSNBC