Legal Definitions - reasonable-consumer test

The reasonable-consumer test is a method used to determine if an advertisement is deceptive. It involves asking whether an average person would believe that the claim made in the advertisement is true.

For example, if an advertisement claims that a certain product can help you lose 10 pounds in one week, the reasonable-consumer test would ask whether an average person would believe that this claim is true. If the answer is no, then the advertisement may be considered deceptive.

Another example would be an advertisement for a car that claims it gets 100 miles per gallon. The reasonable-consumer test would ask whether an average person would believe that this claim is true. If the answer is no, then the advertisement may be considered deceptive.

The reasonable-consumer test is important because it helps protect consumers from false or misleading advertising. By using this test, companies are held accountable for the claims they make in their advertisements.