Law Professors: Food Marketing Guidelines Do Not Violate First Amendments

A host of academics have called on the heads of the Federal Trade Commission, Food & Drug Administration, and other top government officials not to back away from proposed food marketing guidelines that have been heavily criticized by food and media companies.

In an "open letter" signed by three dozen law professors from some big name schools -- Harvard, Yale, Georgetown and others -- the professors argue that since the guidelines, produced by an interagency working group (IWG) on food marketing to kids, are voluntary, they do not, "in their current form" violate the First Amendment.