Category Archives: Food and Drug

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FDA & FTC Issue Joint Warning Letters to Companies Marketing Products to Overcome Opioid Addiction and Withdrawal

By Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Dietary Supplements, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
The FDA & FTC today posted warning letters to 11 marketers and distributors of opioid cessation products, alleging that such products were unapproved new drugs that violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) and that made unsubstantiated, deceptive claims in violation of the FTC Act.  In addition to the 11 joint warning letters … Continue Reading

Genetically Modified – Naturally!

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising Litigation, Class Actions, Food and Drug
On October 25, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts dismissed a consumer class action under Massachusetts law, contending that Wesson vegetable oil is falsely labeled “100% natural” because it allegedly is extracted from genetically modified corn, soybean and rapeseed.  Lee v. Conagra Brands., Inc., 1:17-cv-11042 (D. Mass Oct. 25, 2017).  This was … Continue Reading

Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, but It’s Not an Ingredient

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Food and Drug
The Food and Drug Administration has made the news lately for disapproving a Massachusetts bakery’s inclusion of “love” among the listed ingredients in its granola products.  Nashoba Brook Bakery produces breads and granolas that are sold in independent markets and fine-food stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  As the FDA primly put it, “‘Love’ is not … Continue Reading

“Free Speech in the Fog of Scientific Uncertainty” by Professor Jane Bambauer

By John E. Villafranco on Posted in Dietary Supplements, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
In the following article authored by University of Arizona Law Professor Jane Bambauer, the professor makes a compelling argument that FTC/FDA regulation of health claims should focus on situations  where the government has compelling evidence of actual harm.   Professor Bambauer offers an opinion that high standards for health benefit claims can effectively silence commercial speech … Continue Reading

TINA Has Eyes on Goop

By John E. Villafranco on Posted in Advertising, Advertising Litigation, Dietary Supplements, Fashion and Retail, Food and Drug
The consumer advocacy non-profit Truth in Advertising, Inc. (TINA.org) has set its sights on Goop, the lifestyle brand launched by Gwyneth Paltrow.  In a complaint filed earlier this week with the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County California district attorneys, both members of the California Food and Drug and medical Device Task Force, TINA alleges … Continue Reading

Missing Ingredient Claims Lead Food Advertising Class Actions So Far in 2017

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising Litigation, Class Actions, Food and Drug
For the first 28 weeks of 2017, the most frequently alleged claims in new food and beverage false-advertising class actions have related to featured product ingredients that allegedly are absent, or present only in small quantities, in the food at issue. We reviewed news reports and other mentions of newly-filed food advertising class actions for … Continue Reading

Minnesota Federal Judge Says Glyphosate Claims are “Unreasonable”

By Jeffrey S. Jacobson on Posted in Advertising Litigation, Food and Drug
A mini-trend in food litigation last year was the spate of class action cases alleging that foods advertised as “natural” contained trace amounts of the herbicide glyphosate.  “Trace” is the operative word; to the extent plaintiffs alleged the amounts they found, those amounts always were far below even what the U.S. Department of Agriculture permits … Continue Reading

NY AG Enters Mobile Health App Enforcement Arena with Settlements Targeting Health Claims and Privacy Practices

By Ilunga Kalala, Kristi Wolff and Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Advertising, Food and Drug, Privacy and Information Security, State Attorneys General
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently announced settlements with three mobile health app developers resolving allegations that they made deceptive advertisements and had irresponsible privacy practices. The Attorney General alleged that the developers sold and advertised mobile apps that purported to measure vital signs or other indicators of health using just a smartphone. The … Continue Reading

Oregon Attorney General Announces $545,000 Settlement with Retailer

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Dietary Supplements, Fashion and Retail, Food and Drug
The Oregon AG recently announced a $545,000 settlement with the Vitamin Shoppe over allegations that the store violated Oregon state law by selling dietary supplements containing ingredients that FDA has deemed unsafe or unlawful. The new settlement agreement places significant burdens on the Vitamin Shoppe to monitor developments on ingredient status. The burdens are the same regardless of whether the … Continue Reading

Ad Law News and Views Newsletter

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Antitrust, Class Actions, Consumer Protection, Dietary Supplements, Enforcement, Fashion and Retail, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Kelley Drye, Legislative Developments, NAD, Privacy and Information Security, Regulatory Developments, Social Media, State Attorneys General
Did you know Kelley Drye’s Advertising Law practice produces a newsletter, Ad Law News and Views, every two weeks to help you stay current on ad law and privacy matters? Click here to access our Publication Sign Up and select Advertising and Marketing to subscribe. Find contents from the latest issue below: Click here to view with … Continue Reading

FTC Cries Foul On Breathometer Accuracy Claims

By Kristi Wolff on Posted in Advertising, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
The FTC recently announced a settlement with Breathometer, Inc., a company that marketed a smartphone accessory that it claimed could detect blood alcohol levels.  Users could simply plug the accessory into the headphone jack, open the Breathometer app, blow, and receive a reading of their blood alcohol content within five seconds.  Breathometer marketed the products … Continue Reading

Announcing the Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising and Privacy Law Summit, Advertising Litigation, Agreements, Antitrust, Class Actions, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Fashion and Retail, Federal & State Regulatory, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Internet of Things, Legislative Developments, Marketing & Media Transactions, Mobile Marketing, NAD, Native Advertising, Privacy and Information Security, Real Time Marketing, Regulatory Developments, Social Media, State Attorneys General
Please join Kelley Drye in 2017 for the Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series. Like our annual in-person event, this series will provide engaging speakers with extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of advertising, privacy, and consumer protection. These webinars will give key updates and provide practical tips to address issues faced by counsel. … Continue Reading

Protected: 2016 Advertising and Privacy Law Summit Attendee Follow up

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising and Privacy Law Summit, Advertising Litigation, Class Actions, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Dietary Supplements, Enforcement, Federal & State Regulatory, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Green Marketing, Internet of Things, Kelley Drye, Legislative Developments, Made in USA, Mobile Marketing, NAD, Native Advertising, Privacy and Information Security, Promotions, Real Time Marketing, Regulatory Developments
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

FTC’s “All Natural” Cases Are More About “All” Than “Natural”

By Kristi Wolff on Posted in Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Green Marketing
The Federal Trade Commission announced last week filing of four consent decrees and an administrative complaint relating to companies selling various personal care products – shampoos, sunscreens, moisturizers – featuring claims such as “all natural” or “100% natural.”  The FTC alleges that these claims were false or misleading because all of the products at issue … Continue Reading

News & Views: Dietary Supplement Advertising

By Jeff Scurry on Posted in Advertising, Dietary Supplements, Food and Drug
This month we sent out the first edition of News & Views: Dietary Supplement Advertising. This newsletter is specifically for our clients marketing dietary supplements. We’ll cover developments ranging from FTC, FDA, and Customs to class actions and Prop 65. Check out our first issue and subscribe to future issues by filling out your information … Continue Reading

Weight-Loss Claims: How Many Studies Does the FTC Really Think It Takes?

By John E. Villafranco and Katie Townley on Posted in Advertising, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
On Tuesday, the FTC announced that it has sent warning letters to 20 marketers of weight-loss dietary supplements. The letters question whether the companies possess adequate support for claims and describe the scientific evidence required to support such claims. The Commission is asking the companies to review all product claims, including endorsements and testimonials, to … Continue Reading

United States v. Bayer: Preventing or Treating Disease Claims

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising Litigation, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
In recent years, the FTC and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (“CSPI”) seem to have seen disease claims everywhere, regardless of whether the FDA has deemed the same claims appropriate, non-disease structure/function claims.  In the United States v. Bayer Corp., for the second time in recent months, a court called them on … Continue Reading

FTC Urges FDA to Reconsider Homeopathic Regulatory Framework

By Kristi Wolff on Posted in Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
In a comment filed last Friday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) responded to its sister-agency’s request for comments by urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reconsider how homeopathic drugs are regulated.  As we discussed here, both agencies recently signaled interest in the homeopathic area with the FDA hosting a two-day public hearing last … Continue Reading

FTC Resolves Case Against “Melanoma Detective” App Marketer

By Kristi Wolff on Posted in Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, mHealth
The FTC announced late last week that it resolved its case against the final defendant, Avrom Lasarow, in the “Melanoma Detective” app matters.  The FTC alleged that claims that the apps could detect and diagnose melanoma in its early stages were not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence.  As we discussed here, the FTC … Continue Reading

The Pleading Bar In False Advertising Cases Has Been Raised

By Geoffrey Castello on Posted in Advertising, Food and Drug
The Fourth Circuit recently issued a decision affirming a district court’s order dismissing a false advertising claim against GNC and Rite Aid relating to several supplement products containing glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as other ingredients.  This case raises the bar for plaintiffs at the pleading stage because they now must allege that “all reasonable … Continue Reading

All Eyes on Homeopathics: FTC Workshop Signals Targeted Regulatory Scrutiny of Homeopathic Products

By Kristi Wolff on Posted in Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug
On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission “FTC” announced it will be hosting a workshop in September to evaluate advertising for over-the-counter homeopathic products. Homeopathy is an alternative medicine practice dating back centuries that incorporates the principle of “like cures like,” which holds that a given disease’s symptoms are “healing responses” that can be replicated by … Continue Reading
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