On February 5, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a major change in how the agency will regulate claims about artificial colors in foods.
California AG Resolves Litigation Alleging Elevated Levels of Cadmium and Lead in Seafood Products
California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta recently announced a consent judgment resolving allegations that the Pacific American Fish Company, Inc. (PAFCO), a seafood distributor and processor, had sold frozen seafood products with elevated levels of lead and cadmium in California without the warnings required by state law.
Virginia’s EpiPen Settlement and What It Signals for Pharma Under AG Scrutiny
What Happened
On January 16, Attorney General (AG) Jason Miyares’s last day in office, the Virginia AG reached a settlement with Viatris, Mylan’s corporate successor, over EpiPen pricing and related practices. The settlement was filed and approved by the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond without issuance of a press release by the Virginia AG.
FTC Sues JustAnswer Over Allegedly Deceptive Subscription Practices
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sued JustAnswer LLC and its founder and CEO, Andrew Kurtzig, alleging that the online Q&A platform deceives consumers into costly recurring subscriptions without their informed consent, in violation of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA) and Section 5 of the FTC Act.
FTC Warns Companies Over Deceptive Online Review Practices
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has sent warning letters to 10 unnamed companies for practices that may allegedly violate its new Consumer Review Rule. The letters flag potential use of fake or misleading reviews, undisclosed insider endorsements, and suppression of negative feedback. The FTC cautions that violations could trigger enforcement actions and civil penalties exceeding $50,000 per violation.
Florida AG Sues Retailers for Alleged Violations of Nicotine Product and Consumer Protection Laws
The Florida attorney general (AG) recently initiated legal proceedings against several Florida smoke shops, alleging violations of state law related to the sale and marketing of illegal nicotine products, particularly vapor products, to minors. The action targets multiple businesses, including 27 Smoke Shop Inc., A&A Smoke Shop LLC, Alami 9 LLC, Alami 10 LLC, Epic Novelty LLC, and Fuego Smoke Shop LLC. The complaint, filed in the Fifth Judicial Circuit, accuses these retailers of selling, shipping, or failing to remove from their inventory nicotine products that are classified as illegal contraband under Florida law, with a particular focus on products marketed to children.
2025 State AG Year in Review
State attorneys general (AGs) are among the most active and influential regulators in the U.S., using broad statutory authority, political visibility, and growing technical knowledge to shape policy and enforcement across sectors. In 2025, they asserted their authority to shape the legal and regulatory environment across the U.S. through aggressive and coordinated action. Despite changing
New York AG Targets Monterey Finance Over Allegedly Deceptive Lease-to-Own Financing
On December 23, 2025, the New York Attorney General (AG) announced a settlement with Monterey Finance (Monterey) of approximately $2.4 million in debt relief for 835 New York consumers and $175,000 in penalties. The AG alleged that Monterey disguised high-cost lease agreements as traditional consumer financing, causing consumers to pay more than the sticker price for goods and services they believed they were purchasing.
Texas AG Settlement With Hyatt Reinforces Pricing Transparency Commitment
On December 30, 2025, Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton announced a $1.25 million settlement with Hyatt Corporation (Hyatt). The settlement resolves a 2023 lawsuit alleging that Hyatt violated Texas consumer protection laws by requiring consumers to pay mandatory fees on top of advertised room rates. Under the agreement, Hyatt must clearly disclose any required fees added to a hotel room’s price, reinforcing Texas’s push for transparent online hotel pricing.
Menards Settles Multistate Investigation Involving Well-Known Rebate Program
Last month, Ohio and nine other state attorneys general (collectively, the AGs) entered into an assurance of voluntary compliance (AV) with Menard Inc. d/b/a Menards, a Wisconsin-based home improvement retailer. The settlement resolved the AGs’ allegations concerning deceptive rebate advertising and price gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic. Menards will pay $4.25 million to the multistate group, in addition to making several changes primarily related to the company’s rebate and advertising business practices.