[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4291-4292]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2207]


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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
[File No. 962-3150]


Uno Restaurant Corporation, et al.; Pizzeria Uno Corporation; Uno 
Restaurants, Inc.; 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 nationwide 
pizza restaurant chain from misrepresenting the existence or amount of 
fat or any other nutrient or substance in pizzas or other food products 
containing a baked crust. The agreement settles allegations that 
advertising touting the ``Thinzettas'' line of thin crust pizzas as 
``low fat'' was false and misleading.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 31, 1997.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phoebe Morse, Federal Trade 
Commission, Boston Regional Office, 101 Merrimac St, Suite 810, Boston, 
MA 02114-4719. (617) 424-5960. John T. Dugan, Federal Trade Commission, 
Boston Regional Office, 101 Merrimac St, 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 January 22, 1997),

[[Page 4292]]

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, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
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 Order to Aid Public Comment

    The Federal Trade Commission has accepted an agreement to a 
proposed consent order from Uno Restaurant Corporation, Pizzeria Uno 
Corporation, and Uno Restaurants, Inc. The proposed respondents operate 
the nationwide Pizzeria Uno restaurant chain, where they sell, among 
other items, a line of thin crust pizzas known as ``Thinzettas.''
    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 
falsely claimed that their Thinzettas line of thin crust pizzas is low 
in fat. 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 pizzas or any 
other food product containing a baked crust, prohibits the proposed 
respondents from misrepresenting the existence or amount of total fat 
or any other nutrient or substance in such product. Part I further 
provides that if any representation covered by this Part conveys a 
nutrient content claim defined (for purposes of labeling) by any 
regulation promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration, compliance 
with this Part shall be governed by the qualifying amount set forth in 
that regulation. Part II of the proposed order specifies that nothing 
in the order prohibits the proposed respondents from making any 
representation for any product that is specifically permitted in 
labeling for such product by regulations promulgated by the Food and 
Drug Administration pursuant to the Nutrition Labeling and Education 
Act of 1990.
    Part III of the proposed order 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. Part IV requires distribution of a copy 
of the consent decree to current and future principals, officers, 
directors, managers, and franchisees, and to certain current and future 
employees, agents, and representatives.
    Part V provides for Commission notification upon any change in the 
corporate respondents affecting compliance obligations arising under 
the order. Part VI requires the filing of compliance report(s). 
Finally, Part VII 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. 97-2207 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6750-01-P