Federal Trade Commission

The food and agriculture industry is strongly influenced by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) through the oversight of company mergers, food and drug product labeling, and product advertising. The FTC is mandated to ensure that businesses do not use deceptive or anti-competitive behavior in markets of all economic sectors. The FTC also aims to raise the public’s awareness toward recognition of fraud and other unfair behaviors in the market. Activities of the FTC include research, advocacy, and public policy development. The FTC analyzes the structure of many food and agriculture markets to understand what impacts certain industry moves may generate. This entry discusses the history and structure of the FTC and provides examples of how the FTC functions in the food and agriculture industry.