New Balance ‘Made in USA’ Labeling Sparks Controversy

If you took a random survey of consumers asking them what “Made in USA” means, you would likely find out that most people assume that “Made in USA” products are assembled in the United States with components that were manufactured in the United States.

However, federal law concerning “Made in USA” labeling requirements does not share this definition.

Due to inconsistencies between what consumers think “Made in USA” labeling means and what the law requires, practices such as those employed under New Balance “Made in USA” labeling are under fire.

New Balance ‘Made in USA’ Labeling Raises Questions

Many styles of shoes made by the popular company New Balance don “Made in USA” labels on their products. Again, the average consumer seeing such a label would assume that all the components were made in the United States and were assembled in the country prior to making such a claim on the product labeling.

Consumers have reported in several nationwide surveys that buying domestically made products is an important factor in their purchasing decisions. A 2013 Consumer Reports survey found that 78% of Americans would purposely purchase a product that was made in America versus a foreign-made product that was virtually identical.

Additionally, more than 60% of Americans said they would pay a premium for “Made in USA” products, and would pay an additional 10% for the product if they knew the product was domestically manufactured.

Shoppers say that choosing “Made in USA” products is preferable because they wish to stimulate the economy and want to support local jobs. They also feel that products made in the United States are of superior quality to those that are manufactured overseas.

‘Made in USA’ Labeling Requirements

Under federal law, set in place by the Federal Trade Commission, a label may state “Made in USA” if the product is “all or virtually all” made in the United States. However, the product is allowed to contain foreign components and still have the “Made in USA” label.

California law has the strictest labeling requirements for “Made in USA” products. In order for a product to have a “Made in USA” label in California, all of the components that are used to manufacture an item must originate from the United States.

False Advertising of New Balance ‘Made in USA’ Labeling

Consumers questioning the legitimacy of New Balance ‘Made in USA’ labeling and the labeling of other products state that companies are purposely misleading consumers by falsely advertising that their products are “Made in USA” when the products contain foreign materials.

Shoppers say that companies like New Balance are using consumers’ desire for domestically made products and willingness to pay more for these products and are exploiting them by falsely labeling products to gain additional profits from the sale of their items.

More than 50 different styles of New Balance shoes currently contain “Made in USA” product labels. Lawyers are currently conducting an investigation concerning the potentially misleading labels and false advertising surrounding these products.

Consumers who have purchased shoes in California with New Balance “Made in USA” labeling within the last two years may be eligible for compensation as a result of this class action lawsuit investigation. Potential claimants may receive a free case review to determine their eligibility to pursue legal action against the company.

Join a Free New Balance ‘Made in the USA’ Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased one or more New Balance shoes in California in the past two years based, in part, on a “Made in the USA” label, you may be able to seek compensation by joining a class action lawsuit investigation.

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