Made in America - FTC Regulations
Was wondering, based on the vague guidelines supplied by the FTC... how far are you researching, reaching when making the determination on raw materials in order to use the "Made in America" designation for your products?
Is anyone having difficulty getting raw material information from their suppliers as to the country of origin for the raw materials they use to provide you with the materials they are supplying you?
Any information regarding the Made in America claim would be greatly appreciated.
Honestly I stay away from it. If you have any critical components in your food you're susceptible. Further, "made in USA" is such a valuable claim that people tend to make it if they qualify, and if your suppliers aren't being forthcoming with that information, you can pretty much bet that they aren't able to make it.
Stick to qualified claims like "manufactured in X [state]", or assembled/cooked in USA. They receive less scrutiny and in a lot of ways get the same market impression.
New balance has had some trouble with the FTC, so they're very good at making qualified claims with appropriate disclaimers at this point. You can use their advertising as a guide.