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How Accurate are ‘Made in America’ Labels?

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    Consumer Reports Projects Editor Tod Marks on the rules for product labeling.

  • Duration 6:27
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We'll have more on those stories -- just a moment that first.

We -- made in America how do you really know -- made in America labeling laws are confusing and some products.

Well they just outright lie about where this stuff is made so if you wanna help the economy keep jobs at home.

How can you be sure you doing the right thing here to help sort through -- all.

Is top marks for consumer reports -- great to have you on the show thanks so much for being with us -- my pleasure -- so let's start with this how do you know.

I -- -- -- things every which way how do you know which products are made in America.

Well they're very serious and very complex and arcane rules governing.

What it means to be made in America -- claims for example that can be what -- -- qualified.

Made in the USA no way ambiguity and then they're qualified claim made in the US.

Parts made in China or their created here Cape -- like apple designed by apple in California assembled in China.

Well sure and that's sort of flag waving confusion is why prompts a lot of people to scratch their head and we get letters all the time that if they said.

How can it be the lawyers seem to be clear but they're not.

Well they may state that we you know when they create these was about what it means to be made America it says.

In order to to say it's unqualified made America there can be no ambiguity and you wouldn't want to mislead -- -- on who we are are reasonable person -- can't plant that idea.

But these companies do it with symbols they deal with slogans and it's really hard to tell.

Our immediate example and this is for my real life okay.

So about famine this weekend yes it was wild caught the last get -- -- with the label but it was also labeled product of Thailand like which this is true.

Yeah that that's a great one for -- he get people to get a good how can this big -- And I encountered because we we track down all these kind of claims that -- We just couldn't figure it out with the salmon example if you can believe it is in fact is truly a lasting caught salmon high however.

It's actually cheaper this -- that's salmon.

-- all the way to Thailand to be guided to be -- to be process to be packaged.

And then shipped back to the US on on up on a -- And sell it retail -- actually -- cheaper so -- but now my efficient gone half -- around the world twice getting to -- that's ridiculous.

Well lucky it's not fresh fish and in a package there -- up.

Are a couple more of these that I -- fascinating -- of blueberries from Oregon aideed its products from Chile -- how can that the case.

It's the same kind of thing it's where the items were a bit questionable legal if they have to have political country of origin labeling.

Any product that comes to the United States from a foreign country has to be identified.

As a product of a particular country where it was substantially -- Now the probably is when products are made in the USA with the exception of few products.

Willingness furs for example -- cars there doesn't have to be any claim.

But stuff coming here does so therefore you get these kind of crazy detours that product takes in the interests of processing.

And that's what it's all about -- your Oregon blueberries or not vote how often does Uncle Sam prosecute on the basis have you said it was made here at Watson.

Well there there's a gaggle of government agencies -- actually oversee labeling but the Federal Trade Commission is the one with making sure that claims are on the up and up.

Frankly -- Very little.

Violations have been -- actually only one company since the ninety's has actually.

You know -- -- civil penalty.

Because win win the government does in fact get a complaint and believe it or not most complaints don't come from consumers like you and me.

They come from other companies complaining about a product that -- think -- how to get an unfair advantage.

But what happens you know -- when they do this you know see.

It kind of it doesn't happen very often but the goal of the government is to get the company to stop.

Doing that bad behavior.

And to commit another area and -- they don't sound like they're doing a very much I gotta tell you I -- what they're bigger priorities this comes from your story.

Would you rather buy America 78%.

Said yes we would.

And tell us more about this because apparently people are willing to pay more for American made.

As a matter of fact 60% of people should they be paid in.

10% more 25%.

Said they'd be willing to pay 20% more because -- -- perception of higher quality.

But yeah if there was an actual survey done.

Of Chinese consumers by an independent consulting group and they found out that 60%.

Of Chinese.

Of the Chinese would rather body.

And the American version of a product or other things people because they thought equality was.

Better well okay but your group looked at some of these American products and I just wanna had a couple of they have to find out if American made what's better.

Brooks Brothers you said 84 -- -- and cotton sport shirt was better right.

But what we actually did cut our textile expert -- ball six.

Really high profile products from high profile American company LL bean Lands' End or this new -- like.

And and the shirt was impeccable that Brooks Brothers shirt.

Was how to perfect fit and finish it was -- -- -- wind up it was attention to detail it was -- find a garment as we've seen.

And new balance -- -- not so -- -- mark.

Yellow here's here's one of those new balance shoes and you -- tell -- made America -- -- -- straight here they've got a couple factories here in the US.

And applaud new balance from making -- here but in the case of that particular sneaker.

We thought it was well built it had double stitching and most joint putting adhesion between the soul of the -- but.

-- materials kind of seem cheap -- -- expert issue felt kind of stiffen inflexible.

And and we felt that because of that inflexibility.

It could result -- unusual aware of the -- -- also we found that the materials -- porous so that -- might be likely to retain heat.

It was also heavier.

Then a lot of the running shoes that we see me today you know the trend is in -- -- -- -- kind of clunky show you're well they are right maybe not the best the debris.

-- you guys are so thorough thanks for coming on tonight great stuff really appreciate your time got to come backs him.

Anytime you want thanks a lot thank you.

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