[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 242 (Monday, December 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66043-66044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31801]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
[File No. 952-3357]


Premier Products, Inc.; T.V. Products, Inc.; T.V.P. Corporation; 
Michael Sander; Issie Kroll; Analysis to Aid Public Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Proposed consent agreement.

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SUMMARY: In settlement of alleged violations of federal law prohibiting 
unfair or deceptive acts or practices and unfair methods of 
competition, this consent agreement, accepted subject to final 
Commission approval, would prohibit, among other things, the Florham 
Park, New Jersey-based company from misrepresenting, with respect to 
any product involving the storage or preparation of food, the risk of 
buildup of harmful or unsafe levels of bacteria on food items 
defrosted, thawed, prepared, or stored using the product; the amount of 
time it may take to defrost, thaw, or prepare food items using the 
product; the process by which the product achieves any claimed 
defrosting, thawing, or preparation times; or the existence, contents, 
validity, results, conclusions, or interpretations of any test, study, 
or research. The agreement settles allegations stemming from 
advertisements for Premier's ``Miracle Thaw'' food thawing tray.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: FTC/Office of the Secretary, 
Room 159, 6th St. and Pa. Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20580.


[[Page 66044]]



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Phoebe D. Morse, Federal Trade Commission, Boston Regional Office, 101 
Merrimac Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114-4719 (617) 424-5960
John T. Dugan, Federal Trade Commission, Boston Regional Office, 101 
Merrimac Street, Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114-4719 (617) 424-5960

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46, and Sec. 2.34 of the 
Commission's rules of practice (16 CFR 2.34), notice is hereby given 
that the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order 
to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to 
final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record 
for a period of sixty (60) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public 
Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the 
allegations in the accompanying complaint. An electronic copy of the 
full text of the consent agreement package can be obtained from the 
Commission Actions section of the FTC Home Page (for December 9, 1996), 
on the World Wide Web, at ``http://www.ftc.gov/os/actions/htm.'' A 
paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public Reference Room, Room H-
130, Sixth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20580, 
either in person or by calling (202) 326-3627. Public comment is 
invited. Such comments or views will be considered by the Commission 
and will be available for inspection and copying at its principal 
office in accordance with Sec. 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's rules 
of practice (16 CFR 4.9(b)(6)(ii)).

Analysis of Proposed Consent Order To Aid Public Comment

    The Federal Trade Commission has accepted an agreement to a 
proposed consent order from Premier Products, Inc., T.V. Products, 
Inc., T.V.P. Corporation, Michael Sander, and Issie Kroll. The proposed 
respondents are marketers of a food thawing tray known as ``Miracle 
Thaw.''
    The proposed consent order has been placed on the public record for 
sixty (60) days for reception of comments by interested persons. 
Comments received during this period will become part of the public 
record. After sixty (60) days, the Commission will again review the 
agreement and the comments received and will decide whether it should 
withdraw from the agreement and take other appropriate action or make 
final the agreement's proposed order.
    The Commission's complaint charges that the proposed respondents 
made the following false and unsubstantiated representations about 
Miracle Thaw: (1) Laboratory testing proves that food items defrosted 
or thawed on Miracle Thaw will not develop harmful or unsafe levels of 
bacteria; (2) there is no risk of buildup of harmful or unsafe levels 
of bacteria on perishable frozen food items defrosted or thawed on 
Miracle Thaw; (3) Miracle Thaw will defrost or thaw particular frozen 
food items within specific time periods; and (4) Miracle Thaw achieves 
the accelerated defrosting or thawing depicted in advertisements 
because it is a superconductive metal tray that transfers heat energy 
from the air into frozen food items, thereby speeding up the natural 
defrosting or thawing process. The complaint further charges that the 
proposed respondents represented that Miracle Thaw is effective, 
useful, or appropriate for defrosting or thawing frozen food items, but 
failed to disclose that defrosting or thawing perishable food on 
Miracle Thaw may pose a risk of buildup of harmful or unsafe bacteria 
on the food.
    The proposed consent order contains provisions designed to remedy 
the violations charged and to prevent proposed respondents from 
engaging in similar acts in the future.
    Part I of the proposed order, in connection with any product 
involving the preparation or storage of food, prohibits the proposed 
respondents from misrepresenting: (1) The existence, contents, 
validity, results, conclusions or interpretations of any test, study, 
or research; (2) the risk of buildup of harmful or unsafe levels of 
bacteria on food items defrosted, thawed, prepared, or stored using 
such product; (3) the amount of time it may take to defrost, thaw, or 
prepare food items using such product; or (4) the process by which such 
product achieves any claimed defrosting, thawing, or preparation times. 
Part II, in connection with any product for use in the preparation or 
storage of food, prohibits any representation about the benefits, 
performance, efficacy, or safety of such product, unless proposed 
respondents possess and rely upon competent and reliable evidence, 
which when appropriate must be competent and reliable scientific 
evidence, that substantiates the representation.
    Part III of the proposed order, in connection with Miracle Thaw or 
any substantially similar product, prohibits any representation about 
the effectiveness, usefulness, or appropriateness of such product for 
defrosting or thawing frozen food items, unless proposed respondents 
also make certain specified disclosures in advertisements, on product 
packages, and in product inserts warning of the potential risk of 
harmful or unsafe bacteria buildup associated with use of the product.
    The proposed order (Part IV) contains record keeping requirements 
for materials that substantiate, qualify, or contradict covered claims 
and requires the proposed respondents to keep and maintain all 
advertisements and promotional materials containing any representation 
covered by the proposed order. In addition, the proposed order (Part V) 
requires distribution of a copy of the consent decree to past, present, 
and future purchasers for resale (such as wholesalers or retailers) and 
licensees of Miracle Thaw or any substantially similar product. Part V 
also requires that the proposed respondents provide warnings to and 
eventually terminate their business relationship with a purchaser for 
resale or licensee about whom the proposed respondents receive evidence 
that such purchaser for resale or licensee is making claims prohibited 
by the order or failing to disclose information required by the order. 
Further, the proposed order (Part VI) requires distribution of a copy 
of the consent decree to current and future officers and agents.
    Part VII provides for Commission notification upon a change in the 
corporate respondents and Commission notification when each of the 
individual respondents changes his present business or employment (Part 
VIII). The proposed order also requires the filing of compliance 
report(s) (Part IX). Finally, Part X provides for the termination of 
the order after twenty years under certain circumstances.
    The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the 
proposed order, and it is not intended to constitute an official 
interpretation of the agreement and proposed order or to modify in any 
way their terms.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-31801 Filed 12-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P