Putting out too much information is rarely a problem for the government, but most reports about Tuesday’s announcement by federal agencies of their new and ongoing “sweep” against unlawful dietary supplements overlooked some important consumer information. In addition to the criminal and civil actions made public Nov. 17, 2015, by the U.S. Department of Justice…
Feds Announce ‘Nationwide Sweep’ of Supplement Makers
Seven federal agencies, led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), have announced joint civil and criminal actions against more than 100 makers and marketers of potentially dangerous dietary supplements, which one official compared to modern-day versions of “snake oil salesman and medical quacks.” The agencies went public Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, with some unsealed…
FTC Settlement With Green Coffee Extract Maker Includes $3.5-Million Fine
TV’s Dr. Oz says that he personally believes unroasted green coffee is a “miracle” and a “fat-burner,” but he accepts no money for promoting it. He is also very specific in saying that consumers should purchase only those green coffee extracts carrying either the Green Coffee Antioxidant (GCA®) or Svetol® trademarks. Austin, TX-based Applied Food…
Phony Health Claims About Cactus Juice Result in $3.5-Million FTC Settlement
TriVita Inc. of Scottsdale, AZ, will refund $3.5 million to consumers for marketing its cactus juice as a cure-all for pain, inflammation, and respiratory and skin problems. All those health claims are unfounded, according to a unanimous Federal Trade Commission. The marketers of the cactus-based fruit drink have agreed to the refunds to settle…
FTC Upholds Decision Against POM Wonderful on Deceptive Health Claims
The Federal Trade Commission this week upheld an earlier decision that POM Wonderful juice and POMx supplements made deceptive claims about treating, preventing or reducing the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction. The FTC found that the company made deceptive claims in 36 advertisements and promotional materials, which goes beyond a ruling…
Feds to Parents: Big Food Still Exploiting Your Children; Good Luck With That
If you wanted to ensure a report gets buried, a good time to release it would be the Friday before a holiday week. That the Federal Trade Commission released its latest report on marketing to children on that day speaks volumes about how seriously the Obama administration is taking this intractable problem. The mind-numbing 356-page …
Beer Wholesalers Join Public Health to Oppose Four Loko Settlement
Last month, the Federal Trade Commission took public comments on a proposed settlement with the alcohol company Phusion Projects, which makes a beverage line called Four Loko.
You might recall in 2010 how that product gained much notoriety for sending scores of college students to the emergency room as a result of its dangerous …
Eating Fruits and Vegetables is No Job Killer
An effort to get American children to eat more fruits and vegetables should, even in hyper-polarized Washington, be a no-brainer. Congress recently declared pizza sauce to be a vegetable in school lunches. Now, major food manufacturers are escalating their attacks against healthy food calling proposed food marketing guidelines “job killers” that will devastate the American…
Junk Food Industry Determined to Target Kids
Last week, as health advocates around the nation raced against a deadline to submit comments to the federal government on food marketing to children, the food industry was busy doing what it does best: Launching a massive PR campaign to undermine anything the feds might dare do to protect children from corporate predatory marketing.
What…
Feds Propose Limits for Marketing Food to Kids
Four government agencies, led by the Federal Trade Commission, have announced long-awaited guidelines for food and beverage advertising targeted at children.
Under the proposals released Thursday, the food industry would have five years to phase in the rules if it chooses to abide by them — the FTC says it wants food and advertising companies to voluntarily accept …