Nordic Ware Class Action Lawsuit Challenges ‘Made in the USA’ Claims

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims that Nordic Ware falsely labels and advertises its aluminum bakeware as “Made in the USA” when, in reality, the raw materials used to make the products are sourced abroad.

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The 31-page lawsuit contends that Nordic Ware, one of the leading companies in the bakeware industry, has profited handsomely from the sale of its aluminum baking sheets, Bundt pans and other products, in part because of the reported 10 percent premium consumers are willing to pay for American-made items. Per the complaint, Nordic Ware advertises its products as “made in the USA,” “made in America,” and/or “American made,” and in some cases has stamped its baking pans with a “Made in the USA” impression.

The class action lawsuit says, however, that although some of the final assembly of Nordic Ware’s products might occur in the United States using domestic labor, “virtually” all of the aluminum and bauxite used to make the bakeware is sourced from outside the United States, while all of the transformation of the raw materials occurs in Canada.

Cited in the class action complaint are Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations concerning direct and implied U.S.-origin claims—such as the use of American flags or maps—which may be deemed “unfair or deceptive” if virtually all ingredients, significant processing and final assembly are not entirely domestic. Per the suit, FTC regulations on “American-made” claims have been developed over decades in response to consumer preference in the United States, given that many are willing to pay more for domestically produced goods.

The lawsuit asserts that Nordic Ware is “well aware” of the power of a "made in the USA" claim and deceptively markets its products as made in the U.S., despite knowing the metals used are sourced and processed outside of the country.

According to the complaint, aluminum is derived from bauxite, a raw material that must be mined and then chemically refined into alumina before its final conversion into aluminum.

However, the filing notes that bauxite has not been mined for commercial aluminum production in the United States in over 40 years. As such, the complaint contends that this process likely takes place in Canada, a global powerhouse for aluminum refinery, per past statements from Nordic Ware executives.

The complaint similarly notes that around March 2025, Nordic Ware revised its website to state that its products are “made in America with domestic and imported materials,” following litigation challenging the company’s earlier claims.

Nordic Ware has not changed any promotional material for its products at third-party retailers, leaving many consumers still exposed to the allegedly misleading representations, the lawsuit notes.

“As a result of Defendant’s untrue, deceptive, and misleading assertions and representations about the Products, Plaintiff and the Class have suffered damages because they would have either paid less for their Products or would not have purchased them at all had they known the Products were not ‘made in the USA,’” the complaint summarizes. “Plaintiff and the Class did not receive the benefit of their bargain as a result of Defendant’s misconduct.”

The Nordic Ware class action lawsuit looks to represent all consumers in the United States who purchased Nordic Ware’s aluminum bakeware with unqualified USA representations during the applicable statute of limitations period.

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