The federal trade commission is providing broadcast and cable outlets with new guidance on how to spot and avoid bogus weight-loss claims. Those are the ones that prey on an increasingly plump citizenry by offering apparently effortless ways to shed those added pounds. Media outlets have done a pretty good job so far of weeding out deceptive ads, said one FTC official, but a refresher course couldn't hurt. After announcing four settlements with diet product marketers over allegedly false and deceptive claims totaling $34 million in money to be returned to consumers, the FTC said last week it was sending letters to TV outlets-TV station group owners, national networks, trade associations and others-offering guidance on vetting those ads.
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