This article is about a protest by senior citizens against a ban by county officials on the donation of free doughnuts, pies and breads to senior centers in Putnam County, New York.

At issue are concerns over the health effects of the doughnuts versus the rights of seniors to choose whether to eat them or not.

"The picketers said they were objecting not to a lack of sweets but that they weren't consulted about the ban.

"Lack of respect is what it's all about," said Joe Hajkowski, 75, a former labor union official who organized the demonstration. He said officials had implied that seniors were gorging themselves on jelly doughnuts and were too senile to make the choice for themselves."