The Supreme Court tentatively extended First Amendment protection to commercial speech, but left the issue of defining and regulating deceptive advertising to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has employed tools such as the cease-and-desist order, affirmative disclosure, and corrective advertising. The FTC Act did not define deception, but…

It is important for teachers to understand both their eye care needs and the services offered in the eye care market in order to make intelligent decisions regarding their own needs. (LH)

Presents the history of the journal "Consumer Reports" and its efforts to inform and educate the public about the reliability of consumer products. (MDH)

Describes the Universal Product Code (UPC), the two-part food labeling and packaging code which is both human- and electronic scanner-readable. Discusses how it affects both consumer and business, and suggests how to teach the UPC code to business education students. (HD)

An Advisory Committee reports the results of their efforts in identifying and anticipating consumer problems with packaging and labeling practices and in formulating voluntary action programs in this area. Listed are 13 principles that businesses should provide and/or consider in packaging and labeling consumer products. A bibliography of source…

In order to determine the evidence upon which the Federal Trade Commission decides that an advertisement or other sales representation has the capacity or tendency to deceive, a census was conducted of the 3,337 cases in which such decisions have been made from 1916 through 1973. Findings showed that, of 22 categories of evidence, the three most…

The article lists twenty-four federal consumer-oriented agencies which deal with consumer inquires, with descriptions of the consumer functions of each. The list is taken from a Consumer Product Safety Commission publication and is designed to help consumers determine which agency to contact. (MF)

Suggests that the product liability issues of inadequate warnings and inadequate instructions are particularly important to technical communicators. Examines the relationship between warranties and product liability. Discusses American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines and other resources that provide information on product liability…

Discusses health risks and environmental repercussions associated with household disinfectants and cleaners. Provides alternatives that meet the "Green Cross" certification for biodegradability and safety. A chart lists hazardous ingredients in common household cleaning products. (MCO)

This hearing on the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1989, S. 1425, which requires mandatory nutrition labels on all food products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, covered specific details on labeling procedures which will enable consumers to make intelligent choices on food selection. Prepared statements are included from…

This handbook is intended to help consumers exercise their rights in the marketplace in three ways. It shows how to communicate more effectively with manufacturers, retailers, and service providers; it is a self-help manual for resolving individual consumer complaints; and it lists helpful sources of assistance. The handbook has two sections. Part…

Qualitative analysis of insights from consumer focus groups on product manual usage reveals consumer perceptions and preferences regarding manual and safety message format. Results can be used to improve manual design and content. (JOW)

These guidelines are intended broadly to promote ultimate consumer satisfaction with performance of products as related to consumers' understanding of claims made for those products. Although the guidelines should be of interest to all concerned with the subject of claims documentation, they were developed particularly for advertisers in the…

Examines the jurisdictional activities of the Federal Trade Commission and traces the business and public interest interpretations of the commission in the development of regulatory standards. (MB)

Information and resources are provided for teachers in developing a unit to help students become smarter consumers and understand the purposes of merchandise packaging. (DF)