Margarine Maker Settles With FTC Over Ads

A Unilever subsidiary settled Federal Trade Commission charges alleging that its Promise margarine advertisements--featuring the “Get Heart Smart” slogan and heart-shaped pats of Promise on food--misled consumers about the health benefits of the spread. The FTC said the ads implied eating Promise margarine and spreads helps reduce the risk of heart disease. The FTC, which enforces federal false-advertising laws, said the Promise advertisements also included false low-fat and low-saturated-fat claims. The New York-based company, a unit of Unilever’s U.S. subsidiary, wasn’t available for immediate comment.