American organisation the Centre for Consumer Freedom (CCF), which represents the food and restaurant industry, is warning its members that huge lawsuits could be on the way.

Fearing legal battles like those in the campaign against tobacco companies, the CCF is concerned that since the US surgeon general published a call to action on obesity, 'trial lawyers and public health zealots are seeing dollar signs and have pulled out the stops on everything from taxes on food and drinks to tobacco-style class action law suits against the restaurant industry.'

The Guardian has reported a $50m class action lawsuit has been launched against a US food manufacturer by New York Newsday columnist Meredith Berkman who discovered the fat content on a supposedly healthy snack had suddenly doubled and was similar to that of junk food.

The suit was filed to seek damages for 'emotional distress and nutritional damage on behalf of those who may have been misled' and, it claims with tongue in cheek, those who have put on weight or had to spend longer at the gym.

Although Berkman claims the action is in the name of 'truth in labelling,' her ironic comments about weight gain are what has the CCF worried. Details: www.consumerfreedom.com