AUGUSTA – A Maine Senate vote Thursday killed a bill that would have required chain restaurants to post on their menus or menu boards how many calories are in each of the items they serve. The bill, LD 110, was rejected by a 31-4 vote. It was intended to prevent obesity and improve Mainers’ health by giving them more information on what they’re eating.

Obesity has become a growing public health concern during the past decade. More than half of Maine adults are overweight or obese, and nearly 30 percent of the state’s high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming so.

Other bills addressing obesity that were submitted this session would make schools give parents confidential reports on their child’s body fat and stop teachers from using junk food to reward students.

Food processors and the state’s restaurant lobby opposed the bills, saying they could hurt business.