Tag: PR-Wirein

New York, NY – November 30, 2023 – In a challenge brought by Kingsford Products Company, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC:

• Discontinue the claim that Royal Oak Super Size briquets are 50% bigger than Kingsford Original briquets.
• Modify its advertising to avoid conveying a message that Royal Oak Super Size briquets provide the “best grilling experience” because they burn hotter and longer than competing briquets due to their larger size.
• Discontinue the claim that “a bigger briquet is a better briquet” or modify its advertising to limit the claim to consumer meaningful benefits for which Royal Oak has substantiation.

50% Bigger Claim

For Royal Oak’s advertisements, in which the object of comparison of its 50% bigger claim is not stated, NAD found that consumers may reasonably understand the comparison to be against Kingsford since Kingsford Original briquets comprise a significant share of the charcoal briquet market. Therefore, NAD assessed whether the 50% bigger claim was accurate with respect to Kingsford Original briquets.

NAD determined that Royal Oak’s testing in support of its “50% bigger” claim did not provide representative, statistically significant, and reliable support and recommended that the claim be discontinued.

NAD noted that Royal Oak is free to promote the size of its Super Size briquets or that its Super Size briquets are larger than competitive brands such as Kingsford, but any comparative size claims must not overstate the relevance of the size difference.

“Best Grilling Experience”

NAD found that in the challenged advertising the “best grilling experience” is linked to measurable product attributes; namely, the ability of the Super Size briquets to light fast and provide high heat and a long burn time. As the claim is linked to measurable performance within a comparative context, NAD concluded that it is not puffery and Royal Oak must have support for the claim.

Given that variables other than size may affect the performance of each briquet, NAD determined that Royal Oak’s comparative performance claim cannot be supported by reference to the products’ differences in size alone. Rather, the claim should be supported by properly conducted testing demonstrating that the briquets burn hotter and longer than competing briquets.

As Royal Oak did not provide such support, NAD recommended they modify advertising to avoid conveying a message that Royal Oak Super Size briquets provide the “best grilling experience” because they burn hotter and longer than competing briquets due to their larger size.

“A Bigger Briquet is a Better Briquet”

NAD determined that consumers may reasonably understand a “bigger is better” claim to mean more than just that a bigger briquet size is valuable but that a bigger briquet size is comparatively better in some recognizable or measurable way with respect to overall grilling performance. In some advertising, Royal Oak specifically ties the “bigger is better” claim to burn time and speed of combustion and thus reasonably conveys the message that a bigger briquet size corresponds to superior performance with respect to longer burn time and faster lighting.

Royal Oak did not present sufficient evidence to show that a bigger briquet size provides an overall performance advantage over smaller briquets or superior burning or combustion. Therefore, NAD recommended that Royal Oak either discontinue the claim that a bigger briquet is a better briquet or modify its advertising to limit the claim to consumer meaningful benefits for which Royal Oak has substantiation.

During the proceeding Royal Oak permanently discontinued several other challenged claims. Therefore, NAD did not review these claims on the merits.

In its advertiser statement, Royal Oak stated that that it “will comply with the NAD’s recommendations for the claims addressed in this Final Decision.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business. 

Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org  

New York, NY – November 28, 2023 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising body of BBB National Programs, recommended that Mint Mobile, LLC discontinue or modify the claim that its Unlimited plan is “now just $15/mo.”

The advertising at issue had been challenged by AT&T Services, Inc. before the National Advertising Division (NAD) as part of NAD’s Fast Track SWIFT expedited challenge process, designed for single-issue advertising cases. Following NAD’s decision (Case No. 7250), Mint Mobile appealed NAD’s recommendations.

Mint Mobile offers prepaid phone plans, which, unlike those offered by AT&T and other major wireless carriers, require customers to pay upfront before receiving service. Mint Mobile’s $15/mo. price for its Unlimited plan is a promotional rate that is only in effect for three months. After three months of service, the monthly rate increases, with the exact amount of the increase dependent on which plan the consumer selects. 

At issue in the Fast-Track SWIFT challenge and appeal is whether the nature of Mint Mobile’s promotional offer was adequately disclosed.

In banner ads, on social media, and in a television commercial, Mint Mobile advertised that the price of its Unlimited plan is “now just $15/mo.” The NARB panel determined that the claim in the various advertisements conveyed that the $15/mo. price is a permanent price for Mint Mobile’s unlimited phone plans that were previously $30 to $35/mo., depending on the duration of the plan.

Further, in agreement with NAD, the NARB panel found that the current disclosure appearing in the advertisements does not meet the well understood standard requiring clear and conspicuous disclosure of material limitations for an advertised price offer. Accordingly, the disclosure was inadequate to modify the misleading claim that Mint Mobile has reduced the price of its unlimited plan to $15/month going forward.

The NARB panel recommended that Mint Mobile discontinue the claim that its Unlimited plan is “now just $15/mo.” or clearly and conspicuously disclose that the offer is a promotional or introductory offer for the first three months of service as part of the main claim or in similar size text and font in close proximity to the main claim.

Mint Mobile stated that while the challenged advertising was discontinued last month, Mint Mobile is committed to the self-regulatory process and will comply with NARB’s decision should it use the challenged claim again.

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Review Board (NARB): The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) is the appellate body for BBB National Programs’ advertising self-regulatory programs. NARB’s panel members include 85 distinguished volunteer professionals from the national advertising industry, agencies, and public members, such as academics and former members of the public sector. NARB serves as a layer of independent industry peer review that helps engender trust and compliance in NAD, CARU, and DSSRC matters.

New York, NY – November 22, 2023 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising body of BBB National Programs, recommended that Dr. Squatch, LLC discontinue referring to products that may compete with its Jukebox Soap products as consisting of, containing, or being detergents. However, the NARB panel determined that Dr. Squatch provided a reasonable basis for its “natural” claims for Jukebox Soap.

Dr. Squatch’s Jukebox brand distinguishes itself from competing bars and cleansers as “real” soap made with natural ingredients. The advertising at issue had been challenged by Unilever U.S., Inc., manufacturer of Dove brand cleansers and body washes. Following a decision by the National Advertising Division (NAD) (Case No. 7195), Dr. Squatch appealed and Unilever cross-appealed.

Detergent Claims

In agreement with NAD, the NARB panel concluded that referring to competitive products as being or containing detergents communicates the unsupported message that competitive products are harsh to the skin. The NARB panel further agreed with NAD that consumers are not likely aware of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) technical definitions, and accordingly, it is misleading for Dr. Squatch to refer to the FDA’s definition in referencing competing products as “synthetic detergents.”

Natural Claims

In agreement with NAD, the NARB panel concluded that Dr. Squatch provided a reasonable basis for its “natural” claims. In so finding, the NARB panel noted that:

• An analysis of consumer expectation is the proper standard for what is or is not natural.
• Saponification would be regarded by reasonable consumers as minimal processing, and therefore consistent with identifying the product as natural.
• Jukebox products are made almost entirely from natural or naturally derived ingredients.

Claims about Jukebox’s Leadership

In the underlying decision, NAD recommended that the statement “Who run the world? Girls” in conjunction with the statement “From our world-class natural perfumers and in-house artisan soap makers to our bubbly leadership, we’re a band of music & soap-lovin’ ladies” be modified to avoid conveying the message that Jukebox is a women-run brand. The NARB panel determined that NAD reached the correct conclusion on this issue.

During the appeal, Dr. Squatch presented the NARB panel with modified advertising in which the heading “Who run the world? Girls?” has been replaced with “Meet the Band.” The NARB panel concluded that the revised advertising communicates a different message than the claim language that had been challenged and is properly supported because it refers to the hands-on, directly responsible personnel who, based on the evidence, are primarily women.

Dr. Squatch stated that it “appreciates NARB’s careful review of the record in this appeal and will comply with the recommendations made by NAD and NARB in its future advertising.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Review Board (NARB): The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) is the appellate body for BBB National Programs’ advertising self-regulatory programs. NARB’s panel members include 85 distinguished volunteer professionals from the national advertising industry, agencies, and public members, such as academics and former members of the public sector. NARB serves as a layer of independent industry peer review that helps engender trust and compliance in NAD, CARU, and DSSRC matters.

Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org

New York, NY – November 21, 2023 – Through its advertising monitoring program, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division (NAD) inquired about Glow Fairy advertising on the Beauty and Style Daily website, which included the claim “2023’s ‘5 Best’ Eye Creams on the Market.”

NAD’s inquiry focused on whether the format of the challenged advertising reasonably communicated that the Glow Fairy product recommendations on Beauty and Style Daily were independent editorial endorsements or advertisements.

Toward the end of the inquiry, the hyperlink connecting the Beauty and Style website and the Glow Fairy website was removed and the site became non-functional.

During its inquiry, NAD found that there was no disclosure that the Beauty and Style Daily site was advertising Glow Fairy products. Yet the top recommended product on its website was a Glow Fairy product and the links to purchase other products led consumers to the Glow Fairy website. Further, the “About us” hyperlink at the bottom of the Beauty and Style webpage directed consumers to the Glow Fairy website.

NAD noted that consumers should understand when digital publishers have a relationship with a brand they are promoting and when the content they are viewing is advertising. This enables consumers to better distinguish between editorial and advertising content.

NAD cautioned Glow Fairy to disclose when it is advertising and avoid displaying advertising content as independent editorial endorsements.

In its advertiser statement, Glow Fairy stated that it “will comply with NAD’s recommendation” and indicated that it “has stepped up efforts to monitor claims made by third-parties in hopes of furthering efforts to prevent misleading claims and maintaining brand integrity.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business. 

Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org

• Chicago’s Smyth earns three MICHELIN Stars
• New York restaurants odo and Sushi Noz each receive two Stars
• Inspectors award new Green Stars in New York and Chicago
• 12 restaurants earn MICHELIN Stars for the first time

 

NEW YORK, Nov. 7, 2023 — The first MICHELIN Guide Ceremony bringing together New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., definitely packed a punch, with a new three- MICHELIN-Starred restaurant and two new two-Stars.

Chicago’s Smyth was awarded its third MICHELIN Star, and New York restaurants odo and Sushi Noz each took home two Stars. Chicago’s Daisies received a MICHELIN Green Star, as did Dirt Candy and Family Meal at Blue Hill in New York.

“The famously anonymous MICHELIN Guide inspectors delivered huge news to punctuate a one-night-only celebration for these three culinary communities – buzzing with excitement and emotion, support and encouragement,” said Gwendal Poullennec, the International Director of the MICHELIN Guides. “These milestone announcements solidify these cities as some of the best places in the world to visit for culinary adventures.”

Chicago

• Smyth steals the show, but Daisies commands spotlight with Green Star
• Inspectors name two new MICHELIN-Starred eateries in the Windy City
• Selection comprises 154 restaurants and 38 types of cuisine
  

“The inspectors have been carefully monitoring the progress at Smyth, especially since it earned two MICHELIN Stars in 2017,” Poullennec said. “They unanimously decided that now is the time to reward the restaurant, Chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields, and their staff for delivering peak creativity, precision and teamwork. This is an elite restaurant.”

Here are the new MICHELIN-Starred restaurants, with inspector notes from each (inspectors’ comments in full on the MICHELIN Guide website and mobile app):

Three MICHELIN Stars

Smyth (West Loop; contemporary/creative cuisine)

The very chic Smyth, with its lounge styling and open kitchen, is helmed by Chefs John Shields and Karen Urie Shields. Their cooking is bold and often pushes boundaries, all the while impressing. Sheer creativity is applied to seasonal produce, some of which comes from their garden. A quail egg, gently smoked and topped with caviar, is given a twist with barley caramel. Resting inside its shell, plump Maine uni, amplified with a divine peach gel and wasabi cream, is both stunning and memorable. The chefs’ creativity is on full display in an utterly unique Dungeness crab dish, while wagyu sided by a truffle-flavored doughnut with marrow glaze is yet another hit.

One MICHELIN Star

Atelier (Lincoln Square; American cuisine)

In full view of the dining room, Chef Christian Hunter and his team chart new waters, ever determined to make their own mark on this intimate space. Working quietly and seamlessly, the kitchen delivers a carefully calibrated tasting menu supported by nearby farms and packed with flavor and originality. Familiar dishes like marinated beets, pimento cheese and Caesar salad arrive remodeled and refined, astutely seasoned, and never a leaf or morsel out of place. Hope that the warm clam chowder with lamb bacon and chive oil is still available. It’s a total showstopper.

Indienne (River North; Indian cuisine)

In a city where kitchens break molds and defy expectations, Chef Sujan Sarkar makes a splash of his own on this quiet strip of River North. À la carte is available, but first timers should start with the tasting menu, where Sarkar delivers an original, modern vision of Indian cuisine. His food may look like pieces of art but taste like familiar favorites pulled from across his vibrant homeland. At times showcasing a hint of French sensibility, pani puris, chats and curries arrive deftly spiced and elegantly presented. The kitchen is quick, and the overall effect is impressive refinement.

MICHELIN Green Star

Daisies (Logan Square; Italian cuisine)

Chef/owner Joe Frillman’s menu focuses on produce, and much of that produce comes from his brother’s 30-acre farm, 70 miles outside the city. The restaurant has a fermentation program to preserve produce and limit waste, as well as a compost program to fertilize the farm’s soil and feed its chickens. Its goal is to source local, sustainable food whenever possible and to minimize its footprint by finding uses for commonly discarded items.

Special Awards – Chicago

In addition to the new Bib Gourmand restaurants and Stars, the Guide announced four special awards:

New York

• 8 New York eateries receive MICHELIN Star awards for first time
• Dirt Candy and Family Meal at Blue Hill earn MICHELIN Green Stars
• Selection comprises 421 restaurants and 62 types of cuisine

“The rise of odo and Sushi Noz has been swift and stunning,” Poullennec said. “These restaurants boast exquisite ingredients and intricate preparation, capped off with the meticulous presentation and attentive service.”

Two MICHELIN Stars

odo (Flatiron; Japanese cuisine)

A serene atmosphere awaits in-the-know diners at this secluded counter, closed off from the cocktail bar in front to foster a mood of intimacy. The service, like the ambience, is warm but unobtrusive, allowing focus to fall on the singular kaiseki menu on offer. Under the assured hand of namesake Chef Hiroki Odo, the cuisine skillfully blends tradition and creative personal touches for a meal that is anything but stuffy.

Flavors are both vibrant and precise, with a depth and purity that attests to superbly sourced ingredients and careful preparation. From a savory broth with impeccably cooked tilefish, lifted with locally grown yuzu, to springy house-made soba noodles with indulgently rich salmon roe, this is cooking that will linger in the memory.

Sushi Noz (Upper East Side; Japanese/sushi cuisine)

There is a certain energy that courses through this sacred space, where every detail recreates an intimate Japanese refuge. Some of the tools alone are marvels, and Chef Nozomu Abe is a meticulous and engaging craftsman. When booking, keep an eye out for his dates and time slots. Commence with cooked dishes like pearly sea perch with fresh ponzu dipping sauce and slender pieces of meltingly tender ice fish. Miso soup is the perfect backdrop for silky-soft eel “noodles” with salted egg yolk and crispy tofu pieces, while sushi is jewel-like. True to Japanese hospitality, kimono-dressed staff and the chef himself see guests off with a spirit of gratitude.

One MICHELIN Star

bōm (Flatiron; Korean cuisine)

bōm, a spacious and modern marble counter tucked behind sister restaurant Oiji Mi, showcases contemporary Korean fare. Chef Brian Kim and team have it down to every last detail, with elegant service and well-executed dishes. Of course, there is premium beef ranging from tenderloin and Wagyu short rib to dry-aged ribeye, but there is so much more than just meat here. The dishes display a tight narration, and the presentations are stunning.

Essential by Christophe (Upper West Side; French Contemporary cuisine)

Chef Christophe Bellanca’s dishes echo a simple elegance, evidenced by plump white asparagus on a fragrant bergamot-flavored crème with a refreshing herb vinaigrette and paper-thin slices of watermelon radish. French technique is married with Asian flavors in a dish of three blue prawns with genmaicha tuille, and braised black sea bass with shiitake chutney, razor clams and a turmeric emulsion is memorable. 

Jōji (Midtown East; Japanese/Sushi cuisine)

Three chefs — Xiao Lin, Wayne Cheng and George Ruan — who cut their teeth at Masa now shine in this ritzy location at the base of the gleaming and impressive One Vanderbilt. Jōji has big expectations (and commensurate pricing), but this omakase spot, where tradition reigns but never feels stuffy, rises to the challenge. From the selection of fish (largely sourced from Toyosu Market) to the variety of dishes, a meal here hits all the right notes.

Meju (Queens-Long Island City; Korean cuisine)

This chef’s counter is as much a classroom as it is a restaurant. Chef Hooni Kim is a worthy guide as he builds a deeply personal menu around traditional Korean ingredients that he’s been wild fermenting and aging for the last decade. Dazzling versions of doenjang, gochujang, ganjang and ssamjang shine with silky tofu, fried pancakes, Miyazaki beef and Niman Ranch pork. He brings the room together and impresses with carefully calibrated dishes that appear strikingly minimalist.

Restaurant Yuu (Brooklyn-Williamsburg; French Contemporary cuisine)

Restaurant Yuu pours on the drama, albeit in a supremely elegant way. Chef Yuu Shimano creates dishes that are classically French, but seen through the eyes of Japanese omotenashi. Diners are treated to around 20 courses that could include decadent bites like toasted brioche, made in house by pastry chef Masaki Takahashi, topped with foie gras and a delicate cut of binchotan-seared wagyu.

Shmoné (West Village; Israeli cuisine)

Many kitchens boast about using fresh ingredients, but Shmoné takes that philosophy to another level, creating a new menu daily (though some items stick around). Chef Eyal Shani’s cooking relies on the grill all the way through to dessert, where grilled figs atop Chantilly cream have made an appearance. The flavors are impressively dialed-in and make for a focused meal that is surprisingly approachable and humble.

Sushi Ichimura (Tribeca; Japanese/sushi cuisine)

Among real sushi enthusiasts, Chef Eiji Ichimura is a household name. His career in the city spans two decades, and his commitment to edomae-style omakase has shaped this city’s sushi sensibility. He now finds himself in Tribeca behind a 10-seat counter made from gorgeous cedar wood. He works meticulously and at his own pace, slicing fish flown in from Japan three times a week. 

Torrisi (SoHo/Nolita; Italian-American/Contemporary cuisine)

Nestled inside the landmark Puck Building, this highly imaginative restaurant expertly balances the creative and the familiar. Chefs Rich Torrisi, Mario Carbone and Charlie England and team cater to excited diners, who feast on items like the escarole and endive salad and chicken stracciatella soup with textbook chicken broth, fluffy egg and savory meatballs. It’s the boule, baked, finished on the grill and filled with dreamy clams, that’s pure aromatic bliss.

MICHELIN Green Star

Dirt Candy (Lower East Side; vegetarian cuisine)

Chef Amanda Cohen aims for a meat-free supply chain, seeking to help change the way diners think about vegetables. The restaurant focuses on hyper-local products to make a global impact, including ordering seasonal produce and dairy products from nearby farms. The kitchen uses electric, and the staff reduces and repurposes food waste whenever possible. The restaurant’s wine list is a tribute to women winemakers producing biodynamic wines. Dirt Candy also emphasizes support for its employees by eliminating tipping, offering a health plan and subsidizing educational opportunities.

Family Meal at Blue Hill (Greenwich Village; contemporary cuisine)

Vegetables are a primary ingredient in the menu offered by Chef Mark Ordaz, and they are paired with grains, legumes and dairy, while meat and fish play a supporting role. Chef maintains relationships with several farmers, which allows them to find out promising products that often go overlooked. The restaurant also has an organic rooftop garden. Sustainability education of the staff is also a key component for the restaurant, which also has a composting program, sustainably sourced walnut tables and LED lighting.

Special Awards – New York

In addition to the new Bib Gourmand restaurants and Stars, the Guide announced five special awards:

Washington, D.C.

• 25 restaurants receive MICHELIN Stars, including two new 1-Stars
• Selection comprises 122 restaurants and 37 types of cuisine

“The MICHELIN Guide inspection team is delighted add the international flavors of Causa and Rania to the Washington selection of Starred establishments,” Poullennec said. “These world-class restaurants blend tradition with innovation to deliver a delicious meal and memorable experience.”

One MICHELIN Star

Causa (Blagden Alley; Peruvian cuisine)

Chef Carlos Delgado delivers a taste of his birthplace in a dual-concept space in Blagden Alley. Nestled on the first floor, Causa seats around 20 for a tasting menu that takes diners on a journey of flavors inspired by the topography of Peru. It all begins in Lima with coastal seafood, then progresses into the Andes and the Amazon.

Rania (Penn Quarter; Indian cuisine)

This fine dining concept seems fit for a queen, and good thing too, since Rania translates to “queen” in Hindi and Sanskrit. Chef Chetan Shetty delivers something entirely enticing here with his inventive menu. There are plenty of contemporary touches along with a few surprises (think braised pork belly vindaloo).

Special Awards – Washington, D.C.

In addition to the new Bib Gourmand restaurants and Stars, the Guide announced four special awards:

The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony is presented with the support of Capital One.

Hotels

The restaurants join the MICHELIN Guide selection of hotels, which features the most unique and exciting places to stay in New York, Washington, Chicago, and throughout the world.

Each hotel in the selection has been chosen by MICHELIN Guide experts for its extraordinary style, service, and personality — with options for all budgets — and each can be booked directly through the MICHELIN Guide website and app. Standouts from the selection include the rejuvenated Hotel Chelsea in New York, the character-filled Riggs in Washington, and the iconic Soho House in Chicago.

The MICHELIN Guide is a benchmark in gastronomy. Now it’s setting a new standard for hotels. Visit the MICHELIN Guide website, or download the free app for iOS and Android, to discover every restaurant in the selection and book an unforgettable hotel.

About Michelin North America, Inc.

Michelin, the leading mobility company, is working with tires, around tires and beyond tires to enable Motion for Life. Dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility and sustainability, Michelin designs and distributes the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its customers’ needs. Michelin provides digital services, maps and guides to help enrich travel and make them unique experiences. Bringing its expertise to new markets, the company is investing in high-technology materials, 3D printing and hydrogen, to serve a wide variety of industries — from aerospace to biotech. Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, Michelin North America has approximately 23,000 employees and operates 34 production facilities in the United States and Canada. (michelinman.com)

About Capital One

At Capital One we’re on a mission for our customers – bringing them best-in-class products, rewards, service, and experiences. Capital One is a diversified bank that offers products and services to individuals, small businesses and commercial clients. We use technology, innovation, and interaction to provide consumers with products and services to meet their needs. Through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, we provide our rewards cardholders with access to unforgettable experiences in the areas they’re passionate about, including dining, music and sports. Learn more at capitalone.com/dining and capitalone.com/entertainment.

For more information, contact:

Andrew Festa
Michelin North America
andrew.festa@michelin.com

Devon Gunn
Capital One
devon.gunn@capitalone.com
Phone: 571-308-4762

New York, NY – November 7, 2023 – A panel of the National Advertising Review Board (NARB), the appellate advertising body of BBB National Programs, recommended that T-Mobile US, Inc. modify or discontinue certain comparative phone upgrade claims, modify claims related to the availability of device deals, and modify disclosures associated with T-Mobile’s payoff and free phone offers in certain advertisements.

The advertising at issue, which appeared in television commercials, a radio ad, and on T-Mobile’s website, had been challenged by competitor AT&T Services, Inc. to the National Advertising Division (NAD). To incentivize consumers to switch to T-Mobile, the “Phone Freedom” campaign advertises that T-Mobile will pay off a customer’s phone contract and give a free 5G smartphone to customers who switch to T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus Plan.

Following NAD’s decision (Case No. 7218), T-Mobile appealed NAD’s recommendation to modify or discontinue certain of the challenged advertising claims.

Upgrade Claims

The NARB panel concluded that certain T-Mobile upgrade claims challenged by AT&T are likely confusing to consumers and do not sufficiently clarify that it compares only AT&T’s standard three-year device installment plan contract (IPC) to T-Mobile’s two-year device IPC offers. The NARB panel also found that a significant minority of reasonable consumers could take away the unsupported message that in the context of the advertisements at issue in this appeal, AT&T offers no ability to upgrade prior to the conclusion of its three-year IPC.

For these reasons, the NARB panel recommended that T-Mobile discontinue its “AT&T and Verizon rope you in with phone offers then bind you to a three-year device contract” and “no two-year upgrade for you” claims and modify its advertising to avoid conveying the unqualified message that AT&T customers are only able to upgrade their phone every three years.  The panel also recommended that T-Mobile modify the claim “You’re upgrade ready a year earlier (emphasis added)” with a T-Mobile two-year device financing agreement to convey this is true relative to an AT&T standard three-year device financing agreement.

New and Existing Customers Claim

The NARB panel agreed with NAD that T-Mobile should modify the claim that Go5G Plus is “the first plan that always gives new and existing customers the same great device deals” to clearly convey that the Go5G Plus plan is the first plan that provides that future device deals will be equally available to new and existing customers.

Payoff and Free Phone Claims

T-Mobile advertises that it will pay off a consumer’s phone contract and give a free 5G smartphone to consumers who switch to T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus plan. The NARB panel considered whether T-Mobile adequately disclosed material limitations on these offers.

The NARB panel agreed with NAD that T-Mobile sufficiently disclosed in its “Locked” tv ad that its payoff offer is limited to an amount up to $650 but recommended that T-Mobile should modify its radio advertisement to disclose the $650 limitation in the payoff claim itself.  With respect to T-Mobile’s website advertising, the NARB panel reversed the NAD in concluding it is not necessary to place the price cap in the website advertisement headline introducing the payoff offer.

As for the $830 price cap on T-Mobile’s free phone offer, the NARB panel agreed with NAD that, with the exception of T-Mobile’s website advertisement, the “Phone Freedom” advertising at issue in the appeal does not include the $830 price cap for its free phone claims. To avoid conveying a misleading message that the phones are free regardless of cost, the NARB panel recommended that T-Mobile clearly and conspicuously disclose the price limitation in close conjunction with its applicable free phone claims.

T-Mobile stated that “the advertising at issue in this challenge was intended to convey the many benefits of Phone Freedom, and while T-Mobile disagrees with certain aspects of the panel’s decision, it is a strong supporter of self-regulation and will take the panel’s recommendations into consideration in formulating its future advertising.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Review Board (NARB): The National Advertising Review Board (NARB) is the appellate body for BBB National Programs’ advertising self-regulatory programs. NARB’s panel members include 85 distinguished volunteer professionals from the national advertising industry, agencies, and public members, such as academics and former members of the public sector. NARB serves as a layer of independent industry peer review that helps engender trust and compliance in NAD, CARU, and DSSRC matters.

Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org

New York, NY – November 2, 2023 – In a Fast-Track SWIFT challenge brought by the National Football League (NFL), the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that, for DIRECTV Sports Central, DIRECTV, LLC either:

• Discontinue the “gives you access to every game…” and “With access to every pro football game on DIRECTV, some guests might overstay their welcome” claims, or
• Modify the claims to clearly and conspicuously disclose that additional subscriptions beyond a DIRECTV subscription are required to watch every pro football game.

 

Fast-Track SWIFT is an expedited process designed for single-issue advertising cases brought to NAD. The challenged claims appeared in television advertising, a social media video, and on DIRECTV’s website.

DIRECTV now offers its subscribers DIRECTV Sports Central, an integrated interface available through the DIRECTV Gemini device. Using the Sports Central interface, DIRECTV customers can view a directory of sporting events in a single menu, including any live NFL games broadcast on channels that come with a DIRECTV subscription or those which require a third-party subscription.

At issue for NAD was whether the challenged claims convey the unsupported message that DIRECTV customers can watch every pro football game simply by virtue of subscribing to DIRECTV, without the need to purchase an additional streaming package or third-party subscription.

NAD determined that DIRECTV’s advertising is not clear as to what sports programming is and is not available for viewing with the advertised service.

While DIRECTV Sports Central allows DIRECTV customers to more easily access the games that come with their subscriptions, it does not allow them to watch pro football games for which they have not otherwise purchased a subscription.

Although NAD recommended that DIRECTV modify or discontinue the above claims, NAD noted that nothing in its decision precludes DIRECTV from making truthful and non-misleading claims about the benefits of DIRECTV Sports Central.

In its advertiser statement, DIRECTV stated that it “is pleased NAD recognized that the DIRECTV Sports Central experience provides unique value to consumers” and that it “will comply with NAD’s decision.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.

Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org

New York, NY – November 1, 2023 – In a challenge brought by AT&T Services, Inc., the National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs recommended that Cox Communications, Inc. modify its “powered by fiber” claims to clearly and conspicuously disclose that Cox Internet does not offer fiber to the home.

Cox offers two different fixed broadband internet services. One service, Cox Fiber, is a residential internet service that is 100% fiber, including fiber to the home. The other, Cox Internet, is almost entirely fiber to the node close to residences, but the “last mile” uses coaxial cable instead of fiber. These services do not overlap. The customer’s location determines which service they can purchase.

NAD determined that “powered by fiber” reasonably conveys the messages that Cox Internet is comparable to fiber internet, offers customers fiber optic internet connections to their homes, and offers an advanced fiber optic network.

Because the record does not support that a coaxial and a fiber network are equivalent in performance to all consumer-relevant metrics, NAD recommended that Cox modify its “powered by fiber” claims to clearly and conspicuously disclose that Cox Internet does not offer fiber to the home.

In its advertiser statement, Cox stated that it “appreciates NAD’s recognition that Cox may continue to advertise that Cox Internet is Powered by Fiber,” and while it “disagrees with certain aspects of NAD’s decision, it is a strong supporter of advertising self-regulation.” Cox stated that it will comply with NAD’s recommendations.

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division (NAD) of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. NAD reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.

Contact:
Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
press@bbbnp.org