ANA Files Comments with FTC on IWG Guidelines

Yesterday, ANA filed comments with the FTC in regard to the Interagency Working Group (IWG) report on food marketing to children. The proposals were released on April 28, 2011.

We argue in our comments that the “voluntary” aspect of the proposals is essentially a misnomer, as these proposals carry the weight of four powerful government agencies: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Centers for Disease Control (CD), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our comments point out the vast sweeping restrictions both on products and methods of advertising, including word-of-mouth advertisements and brand-related philanthropic activities. In addition, our comments question the constitutionality of the proposals’ restrictions on First Amendment commercial speech rights. 

ANA has been active on this issue for a number of years. Since April, we have taken an extremely active role in opposing the IWG’s proposals. 

We have called on the IWG to formally withdraw its proposals.

If you have any questions about this matter, please contact Dan Jaffe in our Washington office at 202.296.1883 or by email at djaffe@ana.net.