FTC Closes Probe of Arkansas Mop Maker After It Qualifies “Made in USA” Claims

The Federal Trade Commission closed its investigation of J.W. Manufacturing Company, a mop maker in Mineral Springs, Arkansas, on May 26, 2016, after the company agreed to change “Made in USA” claims that staff said overstated how much of its mops were made in the USA.

The FTC’s concern

The FTC’s closing letter said the company makes many of its mops in the USA using U.S. materials, but some mop heads include significant imported fibers. Unqualified Made in USA claims in its marketing likely told consumers that every product shown was “all or virtually all” made in the USA, the letter said.

The fix

J.W. Manufacturing described a plan to:

• update its website to say some mops include imported fibers
• put stickers reading “Made in USA with US and Foreign Materials” over unqualified claims on affected packaging
• order new packaging with qualified claims
• send updated claims and product descriptions to third-party distributors

Based on those steps and other factors, FTC staff decided not to take further action. The letter said this did not mean the agency had found no violation.

The letter was one of many Made in USA closing letters the FTC issued in 2016. Weeks later the agency sent one to Shinola; see our coverage.