The influencers, engaged by the American Beverage Association (ABA) and the Canadian Sugar Institute, allegedly promoted these items without transparently disclosing their financial ties.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued warnings to prominent players in the food and beverage industry, along with a dozen online influencers, for their failure to adequately disclose paid social media endorsements of sugary products and sweeteners
The Federal Trade Commission‘s (FTC) warnings align with updated guidelines released this summer, emphasizing the need for influencers to prominently disclose advertisements and paid social media content. The influencers, including registered dieticians, endorsed sugar-containing products, seemingly paid for by the Canadian Sugar Institute. Simultaneously, the agency cautioned the ABA about influencer posts advocating the safety of aspartame, a sweetener facing scrutiny for its potential link to cancer.
ABA spokesperson William M. Dermody Jr. asserted their commitment to transparency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) flagged posts lacking disclosures or with inadequate clarifications
The agency deemed the use of “ameribev” as insufficient, emphasizing the importance of clear and comprehensive disclosures. Samuel Levine, director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, criticized trade groups for engaging influencers without ensuring transparency and warned of potential penalties of up to $50,120 per violation. The Canadian Sugar Institute has yet to respond to the Federal Trade Commission’s warnings. This regulatory action underscores the Federal Trade Commission’s commitment to enforcing disclosure standards in influencer marketing within the food and beverage sector.
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