A federal judge in Minnesota on December 29, 2025, denied Nordic Ware’s motion to dismiss a proposed class action alleging that the “Made in the USA” labels on its aluminum bakeware are deceptive.
The claims
In Kaufmann v. Nordic Ware, Inc., No. 25-cv-1379 (D. Minn.), two consumers from New York and California say the Minneapolis company’s labels are misleading because the aluminum in its pans starts as bauxite mined abroad. According to the amended complaint, the bauxite is turned into alumina and aluminum in Canada, and Nordic Ware buys aluminum in 5,000-pound coils imported from Canada.
The plaintiffs say they read the labels to mean that all or virtually all components were from the USA. Citing a claim that consumers pay about a 10% premium for USA-made goods, they say they overpaid about $2 to $4 per product.
The ruling
- Judge Eric C. Tostrud found the case meets federal class action jurisdiction requirements.
- Out-of-state plaintiffs may bring claims under Minnesota consumer protection laws.
- California’s “safe harbor” for Made in USA labels does not bar the claims at this stage, because the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that nearly all of the aluminum comes from abroad.
- All counts survived, including state consumer protection, warranty, unjust enrichment and fraud claims.
The court said the plaintiffs “have otherwise alleged facts stating a plausible claim for each count they press.” The ruling does not decide whether the labels are actually false. The case now moves forward.
Why it matters for Made in USA
Nordic Ware has made its bakeware in Minnesota since 1946. The case asks how far back in the supply chain a Made in USA claim must go. The FTC’s “all or virtually all” standard looks beyond final manufacturing to the inputs. A product formed in a USA plant from imported metal may need a qualified claim, such as “Made in USA from imported aluminum.”
The case follows other recent label suits covered here, including the Paul Mitchell ruling.
FAQ
What is the Nordic Ware lawsuit about?
It claims “Made in the USA” bakeware labels are deceptive because the aluminum comes from bauxite mined abroad and processed in Canada.
Did the court rule the labels are false?
No. It only denied the motion to dismiss, so the claims can proceed.
Does California’s safe harbor protect Nordic Ware?
Not at this stage. The court found the plaintiffs plausibly alleged that nearly all of the aluminum is foreign.
Source & credit
Source: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Opinion and Order, December 29, 2025, via govinfo: Kaufmann v. Nordic Ware, Inc., No. 25-cv-1379. First reported by Bloomberg Law.