The Situation: The UK Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") recently secured undertakings from fashion brands ASOS, Boohoo, and George at Asda to address allegedly misleading environmental claims. The CMA has also...more
Businesses are increasingly making environmental assertions as they seek to demonstrate their sustainability credentials to consumers. This trend, however, is leading to tougher measures from national regulators as they...more
The National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising body of BBB National Programs, has recommended that JBS USA Holdings, Inc., discontinue claims regarding its goal of achieving net zero emissions by...more
The ASA conveyed a sense of urgency, as it believes influencing consumer behaviour will be an important part of meeting UK net zero targets. On 23 June 2023, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) published an...more
The UK’s advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has banned recent advertisements by three oil and gas majors. The advertisements, by Shell, Repsol and Petronas were banned on the basis of...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Evaluation of FDA Human Foods Program Finds Culture of “Constant Turmoil” - An independent review commissioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Human Foods Program...more
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that two UK retail banking advertisements, which made claims about the financial institution’s green credentials, were “misleading” and “omitted material information.”...more
If you’re among the over 40% of U.S. consumers who vowed to change how you eat in the new year, fitting into pants that don’t have elastic waistbands may one of numerous motivators. For many consumers, climate considerations...more
There's likely no mode of transportation that President-Elect Joe Biden savors more than public rail. A September 2020 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit holding the Southeastern Pennsylvania...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Advertising Complaint Upheld Against U.K. Hemp Rum Co. - The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a complaint against The Cornish Rum Co. against its ads marketing...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Illinois Adds Sesame to Allergen-Labeling Regulations - Illinois has passed a law requiring businesses to indicate on food labels whether a product contains sesame. The amended law...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - L.A. Proposal Would Require Vegan Option on Menus - A Los Angeles councilperson has reportedly introduced a motion that would require entertainment venues and other establishments...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - Senate Bill to Investigate PFAS Introduced - Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have introduced legislation that would providing...more
LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS & STANDARDS - ASA Upholds Complaints Against Ads Targeting Children - The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld the Obesity Health Alliance’s complaints against advertisements...more
Digitally altered images of models have been a controversial advertising issue for decades. In Great Britain, the Advertising Standards Authority Ltd., which is the governing regulatory advertising body, in 2011 banned...more
Subway Sweepstakes Ads Lacked Adequate Disclosures, CARU Finds - After reviewing an ad for Subway’s “Fresh Fit for Kid’s Meal” featuring premium toys and offering a sweepstakes for a tablet, the Children’s Advertising...more
Furans in Baby Food May Pose Health Risk, EFSA Reports - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued an assessment of the risks of furans and related compounds 2- and 3-methylfurans, concluding that they pose a...more
The use of beauty products is “an understudied source of environmental chemical exposures” with a disparate effect on women of color, George Washington University and Occidental College researchers argue. Ami R. Zota, et al.,...more
Unlike some other European countries, the UK does not currently have specific rules prohibiting or restricting gender stereotyping in advertising. To date, complaints about ads featuring stereotypical gender roles or...more
Seattle Approves Tax on SSB Distributors - The Seattle City Council has approved a tax on distributors of sugarsweetened beverages (SSBs) proposed by the city’s mayor. SSBs covered by the tax include sports, fruit, energy...more
With 1.65 billion users on Facebook, 332 million users on Twitter and 400 million on Instagram, it is unsurprising that many companies are seeking to increase brand awareness and customer engagement by running competitions...more