A federal judge in the Eastern District of New York on February 12, 2026, granted Handi-Foil Corp. summary judgment in a proposed class action claiming its “Made in the USA” labels on aluminum pans were deceptive.
The claims
In Osdoby v. Handi-Foil Corp., No. 22-cv-4199, the plaintiff alleged that the pans’ unqualified “Made in the USA” labels, shown with a stylized USA flag, were misleading because the aluminum comes from bauxite mined or processed abroad. The pans she bought were from Handi-Foil’s Eco-Foil line, which is made from recycled aluminum. Handi-Foil and its manufacturing affiliate operate in Illinois.
The ruling
- Judge Nina Gershon found the plaintiff had standing. The record showed that foreign-derived aluminum is routinely part of the recycled aluminum used in the Eco-Foil pans. The court noted that USA bauxite mining for aluminum ended more than 50 years ago.
- But she lacked evidence of injury under New York’s consumer protection law. She had no receipts, no evidence of competing products’ prices and only guessed at what she paid.
- The court rejected her argument that the deception itself was the injury. Class certification was denied as moot.
The court called her statements about paying more “the types of conclusory statements, conjecture, and speculation that cannot defeat summary judgment.”
Why it matters for Made in USA
The case is one of several over aluminum products. Weeks earlier, a Minnesota judge let a similar case against Nordic Ware go forward. The Handi-Foil ruling shows that winning a motion to dismiss is only the first step. To recover damages in New York, plaintiffs need real proof, such as purchase records and comparable prices, that the Made in USA claim raised the price.
For manufacturers, the ruling does not settle whether the labels were accurate. The court’s findings about foreign-derived aluminum show that a qualified claim may be safer for metal products made from imported or recycled inputs.
Related: Nordic Ware must face class action over Made in the USA bakeware labels.
FAQ
Why did Handi-Foil win?
The plaintiff could not show she paid a price premium or suffered another injury under New York law.
Did the court rule the Made in the USA label was accurate?
No. The ruling turned on injury, and the court noted foreign-derived aluminum is routinely part of the recycled aluminum used.
Which products were involved?
Handi-Foil’s Eco-Foil aluminum pans, labeled “Made in the USA.”
Source & credit
Source: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Opinion and Order, February 12, 2026, via Truth in Advertising. First reported by Bloomberg Law.