Federal · Title 21 — Food and Drugs

21 U.S.C. § 378: Advertising of foods

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes administrative procedures for the Secretary to notify the Federal Trade Commission about potentially misbranded food advertising and coordinates enforcement actions between federal agencies.

Read the full statutory text
with respect to any food which the Secretary determines is misbranded under section 343(a)(2) of this title because of its advertising, or with respect to a food’s advertising which the Secretary determines causes the food to be so misbranded, contain (i) a description of the action the Secretary proposes to take and of the advertising which the Secretary has determined causes a food to be misbranded, (ii) a statement of the reasons for the Secretary’s determination that such advertising has caused such food to be misbranded, and be accompanied by the records, documents, and other written materials which the Secretary determines supports his determination that such food is misbranded because of such advertising. it has initiated under the Federal Trade Commission Act [ 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.] an investigation of such advertising to determine if it is prohibited by such Act or any order or rule under such Act, it has commenced (or intends to commence) a civil action under section 5, 13, or 19 [ 15 U.S.C. 45 , 53, or 57b] with respect to such advertising or the Attorney General has commenced (or intends to commence) a civil action under section 5 [ 15 U.S.C. 45 ] with respect to such advertising, it has issued and served (or intends to issue and serve) a complaint under section 5(b) of such Act [ 15 U.S.C. 45(b) ] respecting such advertising, or pursuant to section 16(b) of such Act [ 15 U.S.C. 56(b) ] it has made a certification to the Attorney General respecting such advertising, the Commission or the Attorney General does not commence a civil action described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of this subsection respecting the advertising described in the Secretary’s notice, the Commission does not issue and serve a complaint described in subparagraph (C) of such paragraph respecting such advertising, or the Commission does not (as described in subparagraph (D) of such paragraph) make a certification to the Attorney General respecting such advertising, or, if the Commission does make such a certification to the Attorney General respecting such advertising, the Attorney General, before the expiration of such period, does not cause appropriate criminal proceedings to be brought against such advertising, The requirements of subsections (a) and (b) do not apply with respect to action under subchapter III with respect to any food or food advertising if the Secretary determines that such action is required to eliminate an imminent hazard to health. For the purpose of avoiding unnecessary duplication, the Secretary shall coordinate any action taken under subchapter III because of advertising which the Secretary determines causes a food to be misbranded with any action of the Federal Trade Commission under the Federal Trade Commission Act [ 15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.] with respect to such advertising.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.