CONSUMER NEWS

Sylvania to Stop Bulb Brightness Claims: The firm has agreed to stop making advertising claims that its Energy Saver incandescent light bulbs are as bright as regular bulbs they are designed to replace, the Federal Trade Commission said. Packages contained such phrases as “full light output” and “as much useable light as an ordinary . . . bulb,” according to the complaint. In fact, the FTC charged, the Energy Saver bulbs provided less light than ordinary ones. A statement that the bulbs burn less brightly must accompany further claims that consumers will save money, the FTC said. General Electric Co. signed a similar consent decree last fall to settle charges that ads for its Energy Choice bulbs misled consumers about their power of illumination, the agency said.