According to a Consumer Reports survey, nearly 80% of United States shoppers would rather buy an American-made product over an imported one if given a choice. These buyers believe that shopping “Made in America” helps conserve American manufacturing jobs, and many said they would be willing to pay extra for an American-made product. Now that 2022 has arrived, it is incumbent on manufacturers to check the wording on promotions and ads. Shoppers are also left to question the legitimacy of these claims.
Identifying American-made products is easier said than done. What do terms like “Made in the USA” and “Made in America” actually mean? And how can you know what products are made where?
Get a basic understanding of the FTC’s regulations. The FTC Made in the USA standard is rather complex, but a few key points can help you determine if a product was made in the United States or not. Manufacturers must disclose U.S. wool, fur, textile products and automobiles. Outside of those products, manufacturers and marketers decide whether to make claims about how American their product really is. While FTC regulations apply to all claims made, they do not pre-approve advertising or labeling claims. This means a company could make false claims, and if no one reports them, they may not get caught.
Know your claim types. The FTC designates claims in a few different ways. There are express claims like when a product directly says, “Made in the USA,” and...
Schubert Jonckheer & Kolbe LLP advises Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) investors that the firm is investigating potential legal claims arising from alleged false and misleading statements about the co...