Sellers of Hoodia Coffee Settle with FTC for Bogus Weight-Loss Claims

The marketers of “Slim Coffee” – an instant coffee product purportedly containing hoodia – have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that their advertising falsely claimed that their product would enable its users to lose significant amounts of weight without diet or exercise. The defendants ran television ads claiming that drinking Slim Coffee had […]

FTC Staff Seeks Comments on Credit Freezes: Impact and Effectiveness

Federal Trade Commission staff is seeking comments on the impact and effectiveness of credit freezes as part of a multi-pronged approach to combat identity theft. Thirty-nine states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws providing consumers the right to place credit freezes, and each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies (“CRAs”) is offering […]

Appeals Court Affirms Ruling in FTCs Favor in Q-Ray Bracelet Case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has upheld a district court ruling requiring marketers of the “Q-Ray Ionized Bracelet” to give up almost $16 million in net profits as part of a maximum $87 million they must pay in refunds to consumers. In a decision issued on January 3 and written by […]

Commission Approves Final Consent Orders in Matters of Schering-Plough/Akzo Nobel; Budget Rent-A-Car Systems, Inc.; and A&P/Pathmark

Commission approval of final consent orders: Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved the issuance of a final consent order and a letter to the commenter of record in the matter concerning Schering-Plough Corporation and Akzo Nobel N.V. The Commission vote approving the issuance of the final order and letter was 5-0. (FTC […]

FTC To Host Public Workshop on Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates

As part of its review of its environmental marketing guidelines, also known as the Green Guides, the Federal Trade Commission will host a public workshop on carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the agency’s satellite building in Washington, DC. Carbon offsets fund […]