The Web has erupted with news, opinion and practical guidance on the new FTC rules that apply to disclosures on blogger freebies. As a public service, NutriSupLaw offers a sampling of the best of initial analysis.
If your marketing plan includes raising awareness through bloggers, read the latest FTC announcement on disclosure of freebies. The agency says that bloggers who review products given to them for free should disclose that fact in some circumstances. Failure to do so will not affect thebloggers, but could trigger FTC action against marketers for what the agency considers deceptive practices.
Despite the recession, nutritional supplement companies remain popular with consumers and Wall Street. A $35 million merger and $132 million IPO are the latest examples of industry’s financial health.
How closely can nutritional supplement companies connect with the fast-moving world of social media? The FDA will address these questions at a hearing Nov. 12-13 in Washington. The agency is soliciting comments in the Federal Register.
The Federal Trade Commission provides advertising lessons in its proposed settlement with CVS to refund nearly $2.8 million to buyers of the retailer’s Air Shield dietary supplement. The drug store chain made cold-prevention claims for the product that were similar to those for competing products, Airborne and Germ Defense. Those product claims also ran afoul of the FTC and cost their companies.
This is a tale of two types of weight-loss products and how the Food and Drug Administration had different responses to similar problems with them. The separate, but not equivalent treatment raises questions about how the FDA operates.
