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Manufacturers of processed foods need to pay particular attention to ensuring that full ingredients are listed on the packaging. These need to be accurate and list the ingredients in order of their weight or contribution to the overall volume of the product. Some products need to be marked as suitable for or unsuitable for particular people for religious reasons. Equally, there is a requirement to show whether the product is suitable for vegetarians, vegans, or those with allergies or intolerances. How is this managed by manufacturers in your own country? What guidelines and legal requirements are in force?

1. Should grossly misleading advertisements be stopped before they are ever broadcast or printed? What are the checks and balances in place in your own country to perform this task? Is it a fool-proof system?

2. One of the industries closely watched by the FTC is the weight-loss industry. Find three advertisements from magazines, newspapers, or television that deal with weight loss. What claims were made? Do you believe the claims are truthful and legitimate? How do you, as a consumer, distinguish between what is truthful and what is deceptive?

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