Federal Trade Commission

FMI: FTC proposal to ban non-competes threatens innovation, supply chain resiliency

18-Apr-2023 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Federal Trade Commission should withdraw or “at the very least narrow the scope of its proposed ban on non-compete agreements” to exclude those between businesses and executive-level or “highly skilled workers,” urges FMI, The Food Industry Association....

FTC charges The Bountiful Company for ‘review highjacking’ on Amazon

20-Feb-2023 By Stephen Daniells

In the first-of-its-kind case, the US Federal Trade Commission took action against The Bountiful Company for allegedly abusing a feature of Amazon.com to steal or repurpose reviews of another product.

FTC proposes new guidelines to hem in use of fake reviews

23-May-2022 By Hank Schultz

The US Federal Trade Commission is proposing an updated set of rules that would attempt to rein in the burgeoning use of phony reviews to hawk products online. They would also work to prevent the suppression of negative reviews

FTC probes Kroger, Walmart, Amazon & others about supply chain woes as White House explores impact on holiday shopping, brainstorms relief strategies

30-Nov-2021 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is ordering nine CPG suppliers, retailers and wholesalers to share proprietary data about how they source, transport and distribute products as part of an investigation opened yesterday into the ongoing supply chain...

FTC targets another CBD marketer for unsubstantiated disease claims

18-May-2021 By Hank Schultz

A marketer of CBD products has agreed in a Federal Trade Commission administrative proceeding to cease making unsubstantiated disease treatment claims and pay more than $30,000 in consumer redress.

FTC action casts more doubt over usefulness of 'all natural' claims

14-Apr-2016 By Hank Schultz

The Federal Trade Commission has taken action on natural claims, something which should make dietary supplement companies sit up and take notice, an attorney says.

FTC lawsuit alleges Gerber ads lack the ‘qualified’ part of qualified health claims

03-Nov-2014 By Elizabeth Crawford

The Federal Trade Commission’s allegations that baby food maker Gerber overstated the ability of Good Start Gentle formula to prevent allergies underscores the difficulty of using qualified health claims, which often are restrictive, difficult for consumers...

Cactus drink marketer to pay $3.5 million to settle FTC false advertising claims

16-Jul-2014 By Hank Schultz

The marketers of a cactus drink have agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle false advertising charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission. Such charges could be levied against many companies, said Denver-based attorney Justin Prochnow.

Dr Oz on ‘The Dr Oz Effect’: For my colleagues at the FTC, I realize I have made their jobs more difficult

17-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz has admitted that the biggest disservice he has done for his audience is not identifying where to buy the quality products he talks about on his show.

Analysis: POM Wonderful FTC ruling

Attorney: FTC Commissioners’ ruling on POM Wonderful is ‘truly astonishing’, ‘abusive’ and ‘unlawful’

17-Jan-2013 By Elaine WATSON

While the headlines yesterday could be summarized as ‘FTC one, POM zero’, legal experts say the 54-page opinion from FTC Commissioners on the FTC’s false advertising case vs POM Wonderful could have troubling implications for the food and supplement trade...

Will POM Wonderful case finally clear up confusion over what evidence is needed to support ad claims?

07-Dec-2012 By Elaine WATSON

Do firms need at least two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to convince regulators that they have ‘competent and reliable scientific evidence’ to support advertising claims about the health benefits of foods and supplements?

NPF hits milestone with 200th advertising warning letter

12-Oct-2012 By Hank Schultz

The Natural Products Foundation has reached a significant milestone with 200th warning letter issued through its Truth in Advertising campaign.

FTC's "Green Guides" level environmental claims playing field

05-Oct-2012 By Hank Schultz

Marketers making environmental claims now have a much better idea of what’s allowed and what isn’t after the release this week by the Federal Trade Commission of the latest version of its “Green Guides.”

Judge: POM ‘hastily’ filed case vs FTC to secure ‘tactical leverage’

02-Oct-2012 By Elaine WATSON

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by POM Wonderful against its arch nemesis the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) back in 2010 and accused it of filing the case “to secure tactical leverage” as bosses knew the FTC was about to accuse them of...

Health claims, RCTs and the curious case of the FTC v POM Wonderful: What happens next??

18-Jul-2012 By Elaine Watson

Exactly what kind of evidence is needed to support structure/function or disease risk reduction claims on foods and supplements?

Closing arguments in FTC case vs POM Wonderful due today

06-Mar-2012 By Elaine Watson

Closing arguments in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) high-profile false advertising case against POM Wonderful will begin today at 1pm EST.

Ocean Spray: ‘We’ve always said POM’s claims had no merit’

07-Dec-2011 By Elaine Watson

POM Wonderful has failed to convince a federal jury that Ocean Spray Cranberries misled shoppers and deprived POM of potential sales by selling a pomegranate juice product containing only 2% pomegranate juice.

FTC ups the ante in crackdown vs bogus acai weight loss claims

05-Dec-2011 By Elaine Watson

The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) crackdown against firms making bogus weight loss claims about açai supplements has stepped up a gear.

POM prepares for battle with Ocean Spray as FTC false advertising case drags on – and on…

18-Oct-2011 By Elaine Watson

It is now increasingly likely that a judgment in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) false advertising case against POM Wonderful will not be issued before POM squares up with rival Ocean Spray next month at a trial the cranberry juice giant has unsuccessfully...

Agencies to weaken voluntary marketing guidelines

12-Oct-2011 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The federal agencies behind proposed voluntary guidelines on marketing foods and beverages to children appear to have backed away from some of their earlier recommendations, responding to industry concerns.

Lawyer: FTC 'richly deserves to lose' battle vs POM Wonderful

23-May-2011 By Elaine Watson

A high-profile legal battle between Californian juice maker POM Wonderful and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will move into a new phase tomorrow at a hearing in Washington DC.

Dannon probiotic yogurt sales up 16% despite claims crackdown

23-Feb-2011 By Shane Starling

US probiotics leader Dannon appears to have weathered recent class action and Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-led storms that forced it to alter gut health claims for its spoonable and drinkable yogurt, Activia, with sales rising 16 percent in 2010.

Dannon on FTC settlement: “Our claims remain intact”

16-Dec-2010 By Shane Starling

Dannon says its year-long negotiations with the Federal Trade Commission that resulted in a $21m settlement and modifications placed on its health statements, has not altered the core claims for its multi-million dollar selling probiotic yoghurts.

Kellogg to pay millions in kids’ attention class action settlement

22-Nov-2010 By Shane Starling

The Kellogg Company will pay consumers up to $2.75m over misleading kids’ attention claims for its Frosted Mini-Wheats cereals, after a federal judge reached a class action settlement.

Demand for sustainability is high, comprehension is low, says Mintel

22-Oct-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Demand for sustainable foods and beverages has continued to grow – but many consumers don’t know what the various claims mean, according to market research organization Mintel.

Indulge your hunger for knowledge at Weight Management 2010 - the virtual conference and expo

11-Oct-2010 By Stephen Daniells

FoodNavigator-USA.com will host the first virtual conference and expo dedicated to weight management, showcasing the latest trends and strategies in weight management for the food, beverage and dietary supplements industries.

FTC scrutinizes eco-friendly claims

08-Oct-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed changes to its guidelines for ‘green’ label claims to help marketers avoid making statements that could mislead consumers.

Corn Products International completes National Starch acquisition

01-Oct-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Corn Products International has completed its acquisition of National Starch, the specialty starches business of AkzoNobel, the company said on Friday.

FTC bombs POM (and researchers beware)

28-Sep-2010 By Shane Starling

The Federal Trade Commission legal action alleging POM Wonderful made unsubstantiated claims for its pomegranate products, adds to a stream of claim actions the increasingly active agency has taken this year.

Time to embrace balanced kids’ marketing regulation

13-Sep-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Kids are not going to stop liking chocolate, pizza, ice cream, or fries. Heck, neither am I. So why is industry so afraid of mandatory restrictions on marketing to children?

FTC gives go-ahead to Corn Products-National Starch deal

19-Aug-2010 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Corn Products International has said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has given initial approval of its $1.3bn acquisition of National Starch, with the deal expected to be finalized by early October.

Class action may follow FTC-Nestlé settlement

15-Jul-2010 By Shane Starling

Nestlé was not dealt a financial penalty in its settlement this week with the Federal Trade Commission over immunity health claims being made for some of its probiotic products, but a class action is possible, says a food attorney.

FTC denied expansion of powers

25-Jun-2010 By Shane Starling

The Federal Trade Commission will not be granted extra authority to police healthy foods and supplements marketing – among other powers – after a provision that would have done just that was removed from a Bill designed to reform Wall Street practices.

Kellogg’s escapes FTC fine over false immunity claims

04-Jun-2010 By Shane Starling

The Kellogg Company will change immunity claims for Rice Krispies after the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ruled the claims misleading – but ruled out a financial penalty.

Government proposes controls on foods marketed to kids

16-Dec-2009 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

A federal working group has drawn up proposals for voluntary nutritional standards for foods and beverages marketed to children and young people under the age of 18.

Special edition: Applying health claims

When FTC gets tough on misleading marketing

10-Apr-2008 By Lorraine Heller

NutraIngredients-USA examines the enforcement strategy of the US
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to ensure that the
marketing claims made by food and dietary supplement manufacturers
are accurate and substantiated.

UK solution to junk food ads more effective, says US lobby group

24-Nov-2006 By Lorraine Heller

Regulation introduced by the British government to protect children
from junk food advertising is far more effective than the voluntary
US approach, an American consumer lobby group has said.