The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced the agency “is putting hundreds of advertisers on notice that they should avoid deceiving consumers with advertisements that make product claims that cannot be backed up or substantiated.”
The FTC press release stated: “Under FTC law, companies must back up claims about what their product can do with reliable evidence.“
“By sending notices of penalty offenses to approximately 670 companies involved in the marketing of OTC drugs, homeopathic products, dietary supplements, or functional foods, the agency is placing them on notice they could incur significant civil penalties if they fail to adequately substantiate their product claims in ways that run counter to the litigated decisions of prior FTC administrative cases.”
But what about pet food claims?
Such as the MANY misleading pet food labels and websites with images of roasted chicken or grilled steak. Can each of those pet food manufacturers back up their marketing with FTC (providing evidence those pet foods actually contain the quality of ingredients portrayed on the label)?
Also the many pet food website and label claims such as:
“The most advanced nutrition for your pet’s best life.”
“The World’s Finest Ingredients.”
“Crunchy kibble to help clean teeth.”
Will the FTC hold pet food manufacturers accountable to their marketing claims; asking pet food to back up their images on labels and claims of ‘the most advanced nutrition’ and ‘World’s Finest Ingredients’?
We are asking them to. The following email was sent to FTC…
Consumers thank the FTC for holding companies accountable for their marketing claims. However there is one very large segment of consumer goods that are not being held accountable for their marketing, in fact they are basically given free reign to tell consumers anything.
That consumer product is pet food.
Pet food products are regulated by the FDA and state governments. Even though there are existing pet food regulations stating “a vignette, graphic, or pictorial representation on a pet food shall not misrepresent the contents of the package” – many, many pet food labels DO include images that misrepresent the quality of the ingredients used in the pet food. The FDA and state authorities DO NOT enforce this regulation, allowing thousands of pet products to deceive consumers.
The FDA openly allows pet products – through enforcement discretion – to source meat ingredients from “diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter”. No consumer is warned or alerted if their pet’s food contains these illegal (per the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act) ingredients.
Claims on pet food labels and websites of ‘the finest ingredient’, ‘the most advanced nutrition’, or similar are unchallenged by any pet food regulatory authority.
The industry as a whole – has been given free reign to market products in any manner they choose knowing the FDA and state authorities do not hold them accountable. Pet food consumers desperately need the FTC to take action regarding pet food products in a similar manner to what you have recently done in human products.
As a pet food consumer advocate, I am requesting to give the FTC a presentation exampling the many deceptions in pet food marketing. I am hopeful that when the FTC sees real life examples of the out of control marketing of pet food, the agency will take action to protect consumers.
Please advise us how/when we can present this pertinent information to you.
Should we get a response from the FTC, that will be shared with all.
(fingers crossed)
Any consumer can report misleading/deceptive pet food marketing to the FTC. For more information Click Here.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
The 2023 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.
Kimberly Baker
April 18, 2023 at 12:23 pm
You do such important work Susan. Thank you so much.
T Allen
April 18, 2023 at 3:02 pm
Maybe,someday,at least in in the most blatant cases, if we are lucky… 🙂
PK Shader
April 18, 2023 at 3:19 pm
I wrote to you quite a while back asking why you never took your case to the FTC. I told you my attorney told me you were wasting your time trying to get anywhere with the FDA and pet food companies. He told me that if I wanted and could free up some time, he would be happy to go after these pet food organizations through the FTC. Your requests of readers is too broad. They would need to have documentation of what was advertised against what was actualy provided. The wording can be tricky. If you want this to work I would recommend you find an attorney/attornies to present your case to the FTC so you can stop climbing uphill and finally hold the pet food AND the veterinary incustry’s feet to the fire.
PK Shader
Susan Thixton
April 19, 2023 at 9:24 am
Hi PK – please know that I welcome anyone to take up this battle too. You and your attorney can also reach out to FTC.