WASHINGTON–The Federal Trade Commission has issued warning letters to 78 U.S. retailers that they may be selling products that are improperly labeled as containing bamboo.
In a statement issued last week, the FTC said some apparel and textile products labeled and advertised as bamboo are actually made of manufactured rayon fiber. Among the retailers the FTC has alerted are Walmart, J.C. Penney, Bed Bath & Beyond, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Kohl’s, Kmart, Sears, Target, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club. The statement said the letters outline the FTC requirements for proper labeling and advertising of textile products derived from bamboo, adding that rayon—even if it’s manufactured using cellulose from bamboo—must be described using an appropriate term from the FTC’s textiles rules.
Last year, the FTC sued several companies for allegedly selling products labeled or advertised as bamboo, but that were actually made of rayon. The commission also began enforcement actions against companies selling rayon products that were misleading labeled and advertised. According to the statement, these companies have settled the FTC’s charges and agreed to change their labels to ensure their claims are not misleading or deceptive.
The statement also said the FTC has an online publication, titled “Avoid Bamboo-zling Your Customers,” that advises businesses on truthful labeling and marketing of bamboo products.