NEW YORK (AP) – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is chiding the Mississippi Legislature for passing a bill pre-empting local food restrictions.

If the Mississippi bill becomes law, cities and counties won't be allowed to enact rules limiting such things as the size of soft drinks, the salt content in food or the shortening used in cookies.

Mississippi lawmakers are calling it the anti-Bloomberg bill.

Bloomberg's attempt to limit the portion sizes of sugary drinks was struck down by a New York judge this week.

Bloomberg said on his WOR Radio show Friday that Mississippi has the highest obesity rate in the nation. He said life expectancy is low there compared to the Northeast.

He called the anti-Bloomberg bill "ridiculous."

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