The FTC Is On A Rampage

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission took on misleading iTunes reviews. This week, they’ve subpoenaed every food company in the U.S. (actually 48, but still) that’s marketing to kids. And they might make those myriad green seals on the packaging of so many products not just complete bunk (if they weren’t already) but a violation of FTC standards.

The food company subpoenas are part of a follow-up to a 2008 report, “Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents: A Review of Industry Expenditures, Activities and Self-Regulation,” which resulted from 44 food company subpoenas. This latest report is designed to see what “effects that self-regulation has had over the last three years,” according to Carol Jennings, an FTC spokeswoman quoted in Ad Age. She also said that the commission isn’t proposing regulation, but this is an indication that they’re watching things closely.

On the environmental side of things, the new guidelines could set stricter standards on the language used in promotions, with words like “biodegradable” and “sustainability” taking on new meanings.

Consider yourselves warned.

[Image via GamersRoute.com]

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