Premium BrandsDecember 2, 2019 Discount Retail Chains Selling Recalled Products Major discount retailers Marshalls, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods were found to be selling products subject to recalls taking place between 2014 and 2019. In total, nineteen different recalled products were still being sold within these stores. Three products that are specifically under fire include a sleeper that was linked to infant deaths, a speaker that is known to explode, and a scarf that did not meet federal flammability standards. The three retailers own more than 4,000 stores in 9 countries, and it remains unknown if these companies will face fines or sanctions. Learn More
Premium BrandsNovember 25, 2019 Holiday Shopping Prime Target for Counterfeit Goods As the busiest time of year for shopping begins, federal agencies warn of increase in counterfeit goods. Everything from toys to jewelry and even beauty products have made the list. The Customs and Boarder Patrol have already made 1.4 billion seizures nationwide. Be familiar with best practices in shopping and identifying fake goods this holiday season. Learn More
Food & BeverageNovember 19, 2019 Kraft Heinz Company Issues Voluntary Recall Select varieties of cottage cheese manufactured by the popular Kraft Heinz company is being recalled due to potential foreign matter introduced during production. Approximately 9,500 cases of the Breakstone’s Cottage Cheese have been recalled after six consumer complaints. Learn More
governmentNovember 11, 2019 Department of Defense Stresses Supply Chain Security The DoD Inspector General has placed Supply Chain Management on his annual list of management challenges for the Pentagon. Where he stresses the importance of maintaining a supply chain to not only distribute goods but to maintain a limited supply, remote transportation, and overall readiness for service members. The article states, “The DoD supply chain has faced longstanding problems, such as limited sources of supply, and challenges in distributing and transporting goods to remote locations”, stressing the importance of running a detailed, secure supply chain. Learn More
AutomotiveOctober 29, 2019 Ford Guilty of More than a Dozen Recalls in 5 Months Nearly 300,000 vehicles have been recalled today due to a faulty coupling that may result in noise, vibration, or unexpected movement while not in motion. The recall affects Ford Transit vehicles from 2015-2017, the recall is nationwide and in some parts of Canada and Mexico. No injuries or accidents have been reported however more than a dozen recalls have been reported by Ford within the last 5 months effecting more than a million vehicles. Learn More
PharmaceuticalsOctober 21, 2019 33,000 Bottles of Baby Powder Recalled Johnson & Johnson amid allegations of asbestos tainted talc is launching a recall for Johnson’s Baby Powder, a common household item, as well as an investigation into potentially counterfeit products. FDA testing has tested positive for traces of asbestos in online-bought products. Learn More
CannabisOctober 14, 2019 Counterfeit Cannabis and Adulterants Found in Vape Products Outbreaks due to vape use containing altered or illicit materials have resulted in increased admittance to hospitals for respiratory complications. Current federal cannabis prohibitions that undercut state laws also prohibit national and federal programs to stop adulterated and counterfeit products within the industry. While bootlegging of products is nothing new (the alcohol prohibition of the 1920’s for example), not having the ability to monitor products across states is a hindrance to the legal market. Learn More
Premium BrandsOctober 9, 2019 Nike is the Recent Target of the Counterfeit Market U.S customs and Border protection in L.A. have seized more than 14,000 pairs of counterfeit shoes of the popular Nike brand. The estimated cost is around 2.2 million dollars if sold at retail. The report had stated that the products were declared as napkins, before being searched and seized by officials and charged with “infringement on a Protected Trademark”. The director of border patrol stated “Intellectual property theft is a crime that leads to lost revenue for American industry, a loss of American jobs, and often poses a threat to public health and safety,” and according to Footwear news “the global market for counterfeit goods has ballooned into an estimated trillion-dollar industry.”. Learn More
Premium BrandsOctober 3, 2019 Fashion Trade Group Calls for Five Amazon Sites to be Placed on “Notorious Markets” List American Apparel & Footwear Association, representing over 1,000 brands including Versace, Calvin Klein and Under Armor, has requested that the U.S. government place a handful of Amazon sites on the annual Notorious Markets list. The sites mentioned include Amazon UK, Canada, Germany, France and India. The complaint comes from Amazons leniency with becoming a seller resulting in a confusing and misleading selling environment. A consumer can simply search for popular brands and notice they are sold for a fraction of the price represented in storefronts. It is quoted that Amazon “relies heavily on algorithms and machine learning… leaving it vulnerable to bad actors who can game the system” which means Amazon consumers should be vigilant of 3rd party sellers for now. Learn More
governmentSeptember 23, 2019 Senior Vice President at Ashton Potter Appointed to ITSA Kelly M. Smith, Senior Vice President at Ashton Potter, has been appointed to the International Tax Stamp Association (ITSA). This not-for-profit association promotes high standards and advocates best practices for the use of tax stamps, track and trace and product authentication worldwide. Learn More