[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33873-33874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16314]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

[File No. 962-3041]


Kent & Spiegel Direct, Inc.; Marsha Kent; Peter Spiegel; Analysis 
To Aid Public Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Proposed consent agreement.

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SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged 
violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or 
practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to 
Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft 
complaint that accompanies the consent agreement and the terms of the 
consent order--embodied in the consent agreement--that would settle 
these allegations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 22, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to: FTC/Office of the Secretary,

[[Page 33874]]

Room 159, 6th St. and Pa. Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20580.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kerry O'Brien, San Francisco Regional Office, Federal Trade Commission, 
901 Market Street, Suite 570, San Francisco, CA 94103, (415) 356-5270.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Federal 
Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46, and Section 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 field 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 compliant. 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 June 17, 1997), 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 Section 4.9(b)(6)(ii) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice (16 CFR 4.9(b)(6)(ii)).

Analysis of Proposed Consent Orders To Aid Public Comment

    The Federal Trade Commission has accepted, subject to final 
approval, agreements to a proposed consent order from Kent & Spiegel 
Direct, Inc., and its officers, Marsha Kent and Peter Spiegel, and a 
proposed consent order from Abflex, U.S.A., Inc., and its officer, 
Martin Van Der Hoeven (collectively ``respondents'').
    The proposed consent orders have been place 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 
agreements and the comments received and will decide whether it should 
withdraw from the agreements and take other appropriate action or make 
final the agreements' proposed orders.
    The Commission's complaints against respondents allege that they 
deceptively advertised the ``Abflex,'' an abdominal exercise device, 
primarily through an informercial, over the internet, and through print 
advertisements. The Commission's complaints charge that respondents' 
advertising contained unsubstantiated weight loss success, rate of 
weight loss, and spot reduction representation. Specifically, the 
complaints allege that the respondents did not possess adequate 
substantiation for claims that: (1) The Abflex causes fast and 
significant weight loss; (2) Consumers lose at least ten pounds and 
five inches, or three to six inches, off their waistline within thirty 
days by using the Abflex for just three minutes a day; (3) The Abflex 
causes weight loss and fat reduction in specific, desired areas of the 
body; and 4) Testimonials from consumers appearing in the 
advertisements for the Abflex reflect the typical or ordinary 
experience of members of the public who use the product.
    The proposed consent orders contain provisions designed to remedy 
the violations charged and to prevent the respondents from engaging in 
similar acts and practices in the futures.
    Part I of the proposed orders would prohibit respondents form 
making any claim for the ``Abflex,'' for any exercise equipment, or for 
any weight-loss product: (1) About the number of pounds users can lose; 
(2) About the rate or speed at which users lose weight; (3) About the 
length of time users must use such product to achieve weight loss; (4) 
That such product causes fast and significant weight loss; (5) That 
such product causes a reduction in the size or shape of specific, 
desired areas of the body; (6) That such product causes a reduction in 
users' body size or shape, or body measurements; or (7) About the 
benefits, efficacy, or performance of such product in promoting weight 
loss, unless at the time of making them, they posses and rely upon 
competent and reliable evidence, which when appropriate must be 
competent and reliable scientific evidence.
    Part II of the proposed orders address claims made through 
endorsements or testimonials. Under Part II, respondents may make such 
representations if they possess and rely upon competent and reliable 
scientific evidence that substantiates the representations; or 
respondents must disclose either what the generally expected results 
would be for users of the advertised product, or the limited 
applicability of the endorser's experience to what consumers may 
generally expect to achieve.
    The remaining provisions of the proposed orders relate to 
respondents' obligations to make available to the Commission materials 
substantiating claims covered by the order; to notify the Commission of 
changes in the corporations' structure; to notify the Commission of 
changes in the individuals' employment or business affiliations; to 
provide copies of the orders to certain personnel of the corporations; 
and to file compliance reports with the Commission. The orders also 
provide that the orders will terminate after twenty years under certain 
circumstances.
    The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the 
proposed orders. It is not intended to constitute an official 
interpretation of the agreements and proposed orders or to modify in 
any way their terms.
Donald S. Clark,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-16314 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-M