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FTC subpoenas five restaurant companies

WASHINGTON The Federal Trade Commission has issued subpoenas to five restaurant companies requiring them to disclose their marketing activities and expenditures targeting children and adolescents.

Burger King Holdings Inc., CEC Entertainment Inc., McDonald’s Corp., Wendy’s International Inc. and Yum! Brands Inc. were among 44 food marketers that received subpoenas.

The FTC said in April that it would issue the subpoenas in response to a congressional mandate to investigate how food marketers target children and adolescents.

In addition to reporting the types of food marketed to kids and the traditional ad media used to target them, the food marketers must document the alternative media they use, as well as “any marketing policies, initiatives, or research in effect or undertaken by the companies relating to the marketing of food and beverage products to children and adolescents,” according to a notice published in spring in the Federal Register.

The companies must submit the information by Nov. 1. The FTC then will compile a report for Congress.

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