Advertising Standards Canada releases 2009 Ad Complaints Report
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based Advertising Standards Canada has released its Ad Complaints Report for 2009. The report provides information about consumer complaints submitted to organization in 2009 for review under the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards. According to the report, last year the group received 1,228 complaints about 760 advertisements. Eighty complaints concerning 56 ads were determined to contravene the code. The food advertising industry, including food manufacturers, retailers and restaurants, inspired the greatest number of complaints: 163. "With the economic downturn, consumers have become increasingly value-conscious, comparing prices and searching for deals and discounts," said Janet Feasby, vice-president of the body. According to Feasby, 2009 also saw more frequent complaints about products being unavailable at advertised sale prices and situations in which special limitations on offers were not clearly disclosed. The report is available from the Advertising Standards Canada website at <http://www.adstandards.com>.