Bigelow Tea

When Bigelow Tea says “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned,” as it does on the back of this box of Earl Grey tea, does that mean the tea is 100 percent made in the USA, 100 percent American family-owned or both?

The reality is it doesn’t matter because the tea doesn’t meet the federal definition to be marketed as made or manufactured in the USA. Period.

For a product to be marketed as made or manufactured in the USA, the FTC requires that “all or virtually all” of the product be made in the United States. And with “real oil of bergamot from Calabria, Italy,” as stated on the front of the box, the tea falls short of that standard.

The FTC has made clear that marketers are free to promote ties to U.S. manufacturing so long as they remain truthful about where their products actually come from.

Find more of our coverage on made in the USA claims here.