Health activists have replaced activist judges as this year's legislative bogeymen.

Even though not a single Georgia jurisdiction has indicated an interest in requiring restaurants to post nutrition information on menus, the 2008 General Assembly has decided it is important to ban cities, counties and health departments from doing so.

"The fear is that without legislation we may find ourselves trying to overregulate," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Greg Goggans (R-Douglas).

This, from the same lawmakers who earlier wanted to require students' body mass index be checked in school and reported to parents twice each year. (After controversy, the idea was dropped.)

The state's restaurant industry apparently fears that mandatory nutrition labeling —- being implemented in New York City, San Francisco and a handful of other big cities around the country —- might gain a foothold in the Peach State, so they got their friends in the Legislature to pre-empt it.

Ron Wolf, executive director of the Georgia Restaurant Association, says accurate nutrition labeling of menu items is next to impossible. His members worry that patrons might sue over false information.

More likely, they worry that if patrons know just how many calories and fat are in that delicious-sounding dessert, they may skip it and ask for the check.

—- Mike King, for the editorial board (mking@ajc.com)