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Small Claims Court

Consumer Basics

Small Claims Court

Duped by a false ad? You might consider filing a lawsuit in Small Claims Court.

Federal Laws Governing Ads

Consumer Basics

Federal Laws Governing Ads

There are many federal laws that regulate advertisements in some way or another.

Deceptive Marketing 101: Recyclable Claims

Consumer Basics

Deceptive Marketing 101: Recyclable Claims

How products marketed as “recyclable” end up in landfills.

Food and Drug Administration

Consumer Basics

Food and Drug Administration

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency that is responsible for protecting public health through regulation and supervision of several different types of products, including food…

Is That Ad Deceptive?

Consumer Basics

Is That Ad Deceptive?

A three-part test can help answer that question.

Environmental Protection Agency

Consumer Basics

Environmental Protection Agency

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was formed in 1970, is an agency of the U.S. federal government tasked with protecting human health and the environment. It does this,…

U.S.D.A. Food Safety and Inspection Service

Consumer Basics

U.S.D.A. Food Safety and Inspection Service

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the public health agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that commercial meat, poultry, and egg products are safe,…

What Does Made in the USA Really Mean?

Consumer Basics

What Does Made in the USA Really Mean?

When does a product truly meet the requirements for a Made in USA label?

Who Can You Complain to at the Federal Level?

Consumer Basics

Who Can You Complain to at the Federal Level?

A topic-by-topic list of federal agencies that deal with deceptive advertising.

Better Business Bureau

Consumer Basics

Better Business Bureau

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is made up of several local chapters in the United States and Canada that all work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business…

U.S. Department of the Interior

Consumer Basics

U.S. Department of the Interior

The Department of Interior (DOI), established in 1849, is the federal department responsible for protecting the country’s natural resources and cultural heritage.

FDA Registered, Cleared, Approved: What’s the Difference?

Consumer Basics

FDA Registered, Cleared, Approved: What’s the Difference?

Medical devices like to tout their status with the FDA. But what’s behind these terms?

Puffery – A Marketer’s Right To Lie

Consumer Basics

Puffery – A Marketer’s Right To Lie

Ads can legally lie to you as long as the lie is so obvious an exaggeration that you know not to take it seriously.

What is Industry Self-Regulation?

Consumer Basics

What is Industry Self-Regulation?

Self-regulating organizations can have varying impacts on the standards that are set for the way industries do business.

Product Placement

Consumer Basics

Product Placement

Products that pop up in movies and television shows are often there for specific advertising reasons.

Advertising Self-Regulatory Council

Consumer Basics

Advertising Self-Regulatory Council

The Advertising Self-Regulatory Council (ASRC) (formerly known as the National Advertising Review Council) is a self-regulatory agency that was formed in 1971 by the American Advertising Federation, the American Association…

Council for Responsible Nutrition