Target
TINA.org investigated Target’s website – www.target.com – and found that false and deceptive Made in the USA labeling issues were widespread on its site, including product specifications that falsely stated “Made in the USA” for products made wholly or partially in more than a dozen countries, including China, Malaysia, Korea, Mexico, Germany, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ghana, Turkey, Spain, Peru, Chile, Ireland, and Canada.
Highlights
- Filed complaint with FTC
- Target addressed all deceptive origin claims identified by TINA.org
Brands
Timeline
2017
October
TINA.org performs an audit of the 100 examples of deceptive origin claims made on Target.com and finds that Target has addressed all 100, either by correcting or removing the origin information.
June 27
Nearly three quarters of the examples of inaccurate U.S.-origin claims on Target.com identified by TINA.org are disabled (i.e., the webpages at issue no longer show products images or any information about the products and instead state “product not available”).
June 26
TINA.org sends a complaint letter to the FTC requesting that it re-open its investigation into Target’s Made in the USA representations and take appropriate enforcement action.
June
TINA.org catalogues a sampling of 100 examples in which the Target website displays product specifications that falsely state “Made in the USA” for products made wholly or partially in other countries.
March 1
The FTC sends Target a closing letter after the company, which the FTC investigated for making false and deceptive Made in USA product claims, assured the agency that it had implemented a system for identifying, correcting, and prohibiting false U.S.-origin claims.
Evidence
Featured
Target Misses the Mark with Made in USA Claims
TINA.org probe finds widespread examples of false and deceptive “Made in the USA” product representations.
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Class-Action Tracker
Good & Gather Pasta Sauces
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products contain no artificial preservatives
Matter Plates, Bowls, and Bags
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as compostable when they’re not
Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Spray
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products contain a “reef-conscious formula”
Up & Up Toddler Next Stage Milk Drink Powders
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “nutritionally appropriate” for children older than 12 months
Ovulation Test Kits
Allegations: Falsely advertising the accuracy of ovulation test kits
Target’s Shipt Delivery Service
Allegations: Falsely advertising free or flat, low-rate delivery without adequately disclosing a $3.99 “CA Shoppers Benefits Fee” is added to all orders delivered in California
iPhones at Target
Allegations: Falsely advertising that phones are unlocked
Several Brands of Frozen Waffles and Pancakes
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products are contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes
Up & Up Gas Relief Simethicone Softgels
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “maximum strength” when other similar products contain more simethicone
Prices on Target’s Shelves
Allegations: Charging consumers more than the price advertised on store shelves
Good & Gather Avocado Oil
Allegations: Falsely advertising products as “100% pure avocado oil”
Various Dry Shampoos
Allegations: Failing to disclose products contain the carcinogen benzene
100% Grated Parmesan Cheese Claims
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing parmesan cheese products as “100%” grated parmesan cheese
Target’s Up & Up Acne Products
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that products were safe when they contained, or were at risk of containing, the carcinogen benzene
Up & Up 8-Pack Diaper Refill Bags
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products provide a one-year supply of diaper bags and holds up to 2,176 diapers
Up & Up Flexible Fabric Bandages
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain harmful synthetic chemicals known as PFAS
Good and Gather Pasta Sauces
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing no preservatives
Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Spray
Allegations: Falsely marketing that sunscreens have a “reef-conscious formula”
Target’s Up & Up Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing medicines as “Non-Drowsy” when they contain an ingredient that causes drowsiness
Up & Up High-Performance Lubricant Eye Drops
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products were contaminated with a dangerous bacterium
Instant Pot DUO Electric Pressure Cookers
Allegations: Advertising that pressure cookers have safety features that prevent them from being opened while in use when the lids can actually be removed from units with heat, steam, and…
Market Pantry Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Bars
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “Naturally Flavored” and “Made With Real Fruit Filling”
Sudafed, Tylenol, NyQuil, Theraflu, Mucinex, and Several Store Brands
Allegations: Falsely marketing that phenylephrine products treat congestion and other cold and flu symptoms
NyQuil, Tylenol, Sudafed, Mucinex, and Several Store Brands
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing the products treat nasal congestion
Herbal Essences Dry Shampoos and Conditioners
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain the carcinogen benzene
Mucinex, Tylenol, Sudafed PE, Robitussin, Theraflu, Vicks, and Other Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Tylenol, TheraFlu, Mucinex, and Several Store Brands of Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing medicines as nasal decongestants
Several Brands of Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that phenylephrine products treat congestion and other cold and flu symptoms
Market Pantry Fruit Cocktail
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing “100% Fruit Juice”
Sudafed, CVS, Advil, Up & Up, Signature Care, Equate, and Tylenol Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Up & Up Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat congestion
Vicks NyQuil and Target Sinus Products
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal decongestant
Target Clean
Allegations: Deceptively placing the “Target Clean” label on products that contain ingredients that are harmful to people and the environment
Sunrise Growers Frozen Fruit Products
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a bacterium that could lead to serious adverse health consequences
Market Pantry Berry Pomegranate Water Enhancer
Allegations: Falsely advertising products as natural
Up & Up “Reef-Conscious Formula” Sunscreens
Allegations: Falsely marketing sunscreens as having a “reef-conscious formula” when they contain ingredients that are harmful to coral reefs and marine life
Target’s Shelf Prices
Allegations: Charging consumers more than the price advertised on store shelves
Market Pantry Fruit Punch Liquid Water Enhancer
Allegations: False natural claims
Up & Up Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin
Allegations: False “oil-free” claims
Oatly, Glucerna and Others
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as healthy, safe, and high quality without disclosing that they may contain harmful bacteria
Several Brands of Baby and Infant Formula Powders
Allegations: Products make fewer bottles of formula than advertised
Several Store Brand Acetaminophen Products
Allegations: Marketing products as safe pain relievers for pregnant women without warning consumers that scientific evidence shows prenatal exposure to APAP can cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children
Up & Up Hydrogen Peroxide
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as treatments for minor cuts and abrasions
Up & Up Acetaminophen
Allegations: Marketing the product as a safe pain reliever for pregnant women without warning consumers that scientific evidence shows prenatal exposure to it increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in…
Up & Up Cough, Cold, and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing medicines as “non-drowsy” when an ingredient in them causes drowsiness
Up & Up Pain Relief Patches
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the dosage of lidocaine and number of hours of pain relief provided by the patches
Born Basic Anti-Bac Hand Sanitizer
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “[s]afe & effective” without disclosing they contain the carcinogen benzene
Up & Up Prenatal Vitamins
Allegations: Failing to disclose prenatal vitamins contain heavy metals
“Free” Gift Cards at Target
Allegations: Falsely marketing that consumers who spend $40 or more on toys and kids’ books could get a free $10 gift card when they’re actually charged $10 for the gift…
Heyday Chargers
Allegations: Misleadingly represents that the chargers have “high charging speed” when the chargers break and stop working due to a defect
Up & Up Hand Sanitizer
Allegations: Falsely claiming products “kill[] 99.99% of germs” when there is no scientific evidence to support such claims
Store-Brand Hand Sanitizers
Up & Up Infants’ Acetaminophen Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever
Up & Up Hand Sanitizers
Target Debit RedCard
Up & Up Biotin Supplements
Up & Up Flushable Wipes
Roundup at Target
Market Pantry Graham Crackers
Up & Up Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes
Several Brands of Flushable Wipes
Various Parmesan Cheese Products
Market Pantry Parmesan 100% Grated Cheese
Various Parmesan and Romano Cheese Products
Furniture at Target Stores
Furniture at Target
Glucosamine Supplements: Rexall, Osteo Bi-Flex, and Others
Up & Up Aloe Vera Gel
Target Debit Card
