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smashbox's avatar

If a product states it is manufactured in the USA, does that also mean the ingredients came from the USA as well?

Asked by smashbox (1302points) January 9th, 2010

For example: a bottle of vitamins state, they are manufactured in the USA, does that also, mean the ingredients to make the vitamins came from within the USA, as well?
Or can the ingredients come from another country, and then all mixed together here in the USA, in a manufacturing plant, and then they qualify, as being manufactured in the USA?

I know the USP mark means it under went rigourous testing, for metals and toxins, but does it, also know where the ingredients originated from? (I edited this question.)

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6 Answers

john65pennington's avatar

NO. for Christmas, i bought several candy canes that had M&M candy inside. looking at the label on the plastic candy cane, i noticed this writing: plastic cane made in China, candy contents USA.

dpworkin's avatar

If it says “assembled in the US” the answer is no, if it says “Made in USA” the answer is yes.

jaytkay's avatar

If the components are imported, a label should say something like “Made in USA of U.S. and imported parts.”

For details, here is the Federal Trade Commision’s guide Complying with the Made In the USA Standard

Vitamins may be different. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rules about dietary supplements, I do not know it they rule on “Made in USA”.

Harp's avatar

This is from the Federal Trade Commission guidelines:

“Where a product is labeled or otherwise advertised with an unqualified “Made in USA” claim, it should contain only a de minimis, or negligible, amount of foreign content. Although there is no single “bright line” to establish when a product is or is not “all or virtually all” made in the United States, there are a number of factors that the Commission will look to in making this determination. To begin with, in order for a product to be considered “all or virtually all” made in the United States, the final assembly or processing of the product must take place in the United States. Beyond this minimum threshold, the Commission will consider other factors, including but not limited to the portion of the product’s total manufacturing costs that are attributable to U.S. parts and processing; and how far removed from the finished product any foreign content is.”

filmfann's avatar

@Harp Great answer!

smashbox's avatar

Thanks everyone for your insight.

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