Abstract: These hearings examine the federal government's failure to protect consumers from false and misleading health claims on food labels. A 1987 Food and Drug Administration proposal permitted explicit disease-prevention claims on food labels. This proposal has seriously weakened. FDA's abililty to challenge even what the agency believes are deceptive claims. Testimony is received from Office Management and Budget officials, FDA officials, two state attorney generals, and a representative of the center for Science in the Public Interest.