Reese’s could also be in violation of state and federal legal guidelines with its new sweepstakes supply at the moment marketed on packs of peanut butter cups.

The promotion on two-cup packages reads “You could win $25,000” and, in smaller print, “See details inside.” But solely after shoppers have purchased and opened a bundle can they see the small print: no buy is important to enter the sweepstakes.

The Reese’s contest was first reported Monday by Edgar Dworsky, a client advocate and former assistant lawyer basic in Massachusetts, who runs the Consumer World web site.

Hershey Co., that Pennsylvania candymaker that owns the Reese’s model, didn’t instantly reply to phone and e mail messages left Monday by The Associated Press.

Sweepstakes are primarily ruled by state legal guidelines, which require that no buy is important to take part. A contest that requires a purchase order is a lottery, which is topic to totally different guidelines.

Three federal companies __ Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission and the U.S. Postal Service __ additionally implement legal guidelines governing sweepstakes relying on the medium. The Postal Service requires mailed sweepstakes gives to clarify that no buy is important, for instance. The FTC doesn’t govern sweepstakes particularly, however has broad legal guidelines prohibiting “unfair and deceptive acts.”

The FTC stated Monday that it may’t touch upon the practices of explicit firms exterior of an investigation. It wouldn’t affirm or deny an investigation towards Hershey.

Dworsky stated an indication close to Reese’s sweet shows making clear that no buy is important may meet authorized necessities. But a spot verify of sweet shows in a number of states __ together with California, Virginia and Washington __ discovered no such indicators.

Dworsky famous that Reese’s ran an identical promotion earlier this 12 months that led to April utilizing the identical packaging. Some of these packages are nonetheless on the market, although the sweepstakes code has expired, he stated.

Dworsky stated he’s involved that the packaging might lure shoppers into considering they should purchase it.

“You never have to pay to play. All these packages should be recalled,” he stated.

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