FTC Moving Forward on Food Marketing Report

This week the Federal Trade Commission issued a Federal Register notice asking for comments related to Senator Tom Harkin’s request for a report on the marketing activities of the food industry towards children and adolescents.  Senator Harkin’s request was included in last year’s Commerce, State and Judiciary Appropriations Conference Report, which required the FTC to issue its report by June 30, 2006.  The notice can be found here.

Comments are due April 3, 2006.  Specifically, the FTC is looking for data on the types of foods and beverages marketed to children and the types of media and techniques used by marketers.  The FTC also mentions in the notice that since much of the information it needs to prepare the report may not be publicly available, it likely will issue orders under its authority in the FTC Act to obtain necessary information.