United States: Consumer Protection

This comprehensive update covers critical developments in food safety, regulatory changes, and agricultural health issues affecting the US food and beverage industry. From FDA's release of the 2026 Food Code and ongoing ultra-processed food definition debates to emerging litigation trends around allulose sweeteners and state-level nutrition initiatives, the landscape continues to evolve rapidly.

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a new enforcement action against Greenway Auto Group, alleging the Florida dealership chain charged consumers thousands more than advertised prices through hidden fees and conditional rebates. This case demonstrates how the FTC is applying its recently released auto pricing guidance to crack down on dealerships that advertise one price but charge another at the point of sale.

Recent federal court decisions are reshaping TCPA litigation by narrowing the scope of actionable communications and consent requirements. Multiple district courts have ruled that text messages...

The Federal Trade Commission has filed a new enforcement action against Greenway Auto Group, alleging the Florida dealership chain charged consumers thousands more than advertised prices through hidden fees and conditional rebates. This case demonstrates how the FTC is applying its recently released auto pricing guidance to crack down on dealerships that advertise one price but charge another at the point of sale.

The Federal Trade Commission has secured a settlement with an auto dealership group over allegations of deceptive pricing practices, including advertising vehicles thousands of dollars below actual purchase prices and using misleading prize promotions. The proposed order would require prominent disclosure of total vehicle prices and prohibit misrepresentations concerning pricing, financing, and promotional incentives.

When does a disclosure on the back of a package save a misleading claim on the front? A federal court's ruling in a class action against Barilla over its "Italy's #1 Brand of Pasta" slogan clarifies when disclosures on other panels can resolve ambiguous claims versus when front-panel statements are unambiguously deceptive.

This week's product recalls span everything from blood pressure medication and electric bikes to hand warmers and grill brushes, with hazards ranging from fire risks to ingestion dangers. Understanding which products pose safety threats and what compensation options exist for those injured by defective items is crucial for consumer protection.

Together, these laws change the rules for cannabis testing, certificates of analysis, packaging, advertising, edible labels, and multi-serving beverages. Some provisions take effect on January 1, 2027. Others arrive in July 2027 or January 2028. But none should be ignored until the last minute.

The California Supreme Court rejected a novel negligence theory that would have let plaintiffs sue manufacturers over nondefective products for not developing a “better” alternative sooner.

Minnesota's Attorney General reached a settlement with an online lender over allegations that the company charged interest rates approaching 700% to state consumers, substantially exceeding permitted rates under Minnesota law. The lender, wholly owned by a federally recognized Native American tribe, had disputed that Minnesota law applied to its lending activities, claiming tribal ownership exempted it from state consumer-lending laws.

Washington, D.C. has enacted comprehensive legislation that fundamentally changes how medical debt is handled, prohibiting healthcare providers and debt collectors from reporting medical debt to credit reporting agencies while imposing strict limitations on collection practices. The law establishes significant protections including wage garnishment restrictions, interest rate caps, and mandatory financial assistance screening, though it faces concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system's susta

The Federal Trade Commission announced a $12 million settlement with payment processor Humboldt Merchant Services over allegations of facilitating merchant fraud through unauthorized billing scams, while simultaneously rescinding its 2021 policy statement on health app breaches. The settlement imposes permanent restrictions on processing payments for high-risk merchant categories and prohibits credit card laundering activities.