The agency points to one website ring advertisement that states,
"Please note, diamonds used in this piece are above-ground real
diamonds," but the FTC says the ad does not disclose the diamonds
are actually laboratory-created. Some warning letters also took
issue with use of the terms "sustainable," "eco-friendly," and
"eco-conscious," because such terms imply "certain specific
environmental benefits," the FTC wrote in a press release. The
agency declined to specify which marketers received a letter.
Consumers have come to expect more transparency around sourcing
from retailers, particularly with diamonds and conflict-free
stones. Earlier this year, Tiffany introduced its Diamond Source
Initiative, which
provides origin information of its gems. The jewelers contacted
by the FTC have until April 8 to submit marketing revisions.
In the weed
The FTC has been busy. The agency, along with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, also sent warning letters to companies about
their claims for products that contain cannabidiol, known as CBD,
which is a compound found in the cannabis that does not produce a
high.
Brands including Nutra Pure, PotNetwork Holdings and Advanced
Spine and Pain, which sell supplements like CBD-based hemp oil,
liquid gold gummies and CBD softgels, were warned about ads that
assert such products treat diseases including cancer and
Alzheimer's. The joint FTC and FDA letters warn the companies about
unsupported health and efficacy claims in advertising, "and
strongly urge them to review all product claims they are making to
ensure they are supported by competent and reliable scientific
evidence," the agencies wrote in a release. These marketers have
until mid-April to address the issue.
Mighty light
More beer brands are jumping on the
low-alcohol trend. MillerCoors is bringing Molson Canadian 67
to the U.S.. The Canadian import, which contains 3
percent-alcohol-by-volume and 67 calories,
targets
health conscious
drinkers. It will initially be sold in parts of New York,
Michigan and Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, craft brewer Dogfish Head is
debuting Slightly Mighty, an IPA with 4 percent ABV and 95
calories.
Singing for dollars
On the heels of the
announcement last week of its new Apple Card, Goldman Sachs is
pushing a new marketing campaign for Marcus, its consumer finance
bank, that promotes a high-yield savings account for parents. In
Marcus' first work with 72andSunny, a middle-aged dad sings about
the benefits of saving with the Marcus products.
The gift that keeps on giving
Despite recent lawsuits
alleging sexual and racial discrimination, and a string of
executive departures last year, Nike is still riding strong with
younger consumers. A new survey from Morning Consult found that the
sportswear giant is the most loved apparel brand among Gen Z and
millennial consumers —thanks to the brand's controversial
Colin Kaepernick campaign, the report suggests. But this brand love
is not matched by older Gen X and boomer consumers, Morning Consult
found. Who can forget the real-time reaction that
exposed a generational divide last fall?
Mmmm, cookie dough