Step2
TINA.org investigated children’s toy company Step2 and determined that it was deceptively marketing its product line using the unqualified “Made in the USA” claim despite the fact that 90% of Step2 products were wholly or partially made outside the U.S., with 5% made entirely in China, according to the Step2 website.
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Highlights
- Notified company of findings
- Company suspended all marketing related to its Made in USA campaign
Timeline
2023
January 25
TINA.org reaches out to Step2 regarding deceptive U.S.-origin marketing for one of its kitchen playsets, prompting the company to make changes to the product listing.
2017
July 17
Step2 responds saying, among other things, that, as a result of receiving TINA.org’s letter, the company had suspended all marketing and social media related to its Made in USA campaign while it develops a new approach that eliminates “the confusion” created by Step2’s previous Made in USA marketing.
July 11
TINA.org sends a warning letter to Step2 notifying it of TINA.org’s findings and requesting that it remedy the deceptive marketing immediately.
Evidence
Featured
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Step2 Halts Made in the USA Marketing Following TINA.org Probe
TINA.org probe finds that 90 percent of the company’s products are wholly or partially made outside the U.S.
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