Nicknamed the ''cheeseburger bill,'' the measure stems from lawsuits accusing McDonald's of causing obesity in tens of thousands of children. The food industry has asked Congress and state legislatures to protect it from liability, and so far, 21 states have agreed.

''You cannot litigate personal choices and lifestyles,'' said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said potential costs from the lawsuits threaten the food industry and its 12 million employees and raise food prices for consumers.

''These suits would be laughable if they were not so harmful,'' Sensenbrenner said.

The measure, which won approval on a 306-120 vote, would prevent class action lawsuits blaming restaurants and food companies for weight gain or obesity. The House passed a similar bill last year, but the Senate ran out of time to act.

"My vote proves I will vote against my personal interests when the idea is right,” said Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah. “I may be overweight, but I know whose fault it is, too - mine, not Burger King's. It's high time we try and stem the tide of frivolous lawsuits in this country.”

Rep. Chris Cannon, a Utah Republican and co-sponsor of the act, said the food industry is being targeted by a “variety of unfounded claims” arising over the over-consumption of its products. “Frivolous lawsuits - such as the ones this legislation seeks to prevent - serve only to undermine our legal system and those who truly need its protections,” Cannon said.

Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah's only Democrat in Congress, said consumers are savvy enough to know what they eat affects their health.

“I don't think we can blame the fast food industry for our less-than-balanced eating habits,” Matheson said. “Fewer calories, not more lawsuits, are the answer to our weight gains.”

How Utahns voted

l Matheson Yes

l Cannon Yes

l Bishop Yes