The Federal Trade Commission issued a final order on October 25, 2022 against Electrowarmth Products LLC and its owner, Daniel W. Grindle, over false Made in USA claims for heated mattress pads.
What the FTC alleged
- Electrowarmth sells heated mattress pads, including pads for truck bunks.
- Before 2019 it used USA-made textiles, but it moved production to China and kept marketing the pads as “Made in USA” and “Made in the USA since 1939.”
- The FTC charged violations of the FTC Act and the Textile Act.
The order
- An $815,809 monetary judgment, suspended based on the respondents’ sworn financial statements.
- No country-of-origin claims unless they are not misleading and backed by a reasonable basis.
- Required origin disclosures for textile products, plus compliance reporting.
“America’s hardworking truckers shouldn’t have to maneuver around marketers preying on their patriotism.”
Samuel Levine, Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection
FAQ
What did Electrowarmth sell?
Heated mattress pads, including truck bunk pads.
What is the judgment?
$815,809, suspended due to inability to pay.
When was it final?
October 25, 2022.
Source & credit
Source: Federal Trade Commission, Decision and Order, Docket C-4779, issued October 25, 2022: Electrowarmth Products, LLC Decision and Order.
Also: Mondaq / Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, November 2, 2022: “FTC Settles With Mattress Pad Maker Over ‘Made In USA’ Claims”.