Dec. 09--Four national retailers are paying a price after allegedly bamboozling customers by selling clothing and other fabric products mislabeled as bamboo.
The Federal Trade Commission announced Wednesday that Nordstrom, Bed Bath Beyond, Backcountry.com and J.C. Penney deceptively marketed everything from napkins to shirts as made from bamboo, socking the retailers with civil penalties totaling $1.3 million.
The companies are also barred from continuing to misrepresent the products. While bamboo was the source material, chemical processing turned the fabric into rayon, officials said Wednesday.
"It's misleading to call bamboo that has been chemically processed into rayon simply bamboo," Jessica Rich, director of the bureau of consumer protection, said in a statement. "With consumers in the midst of their holiday shopping, it's important for them to know that textiles marketed as environmentally friendly alternatives may not be as green as they were led to believe."
The complaints allege the four companies continued to violate federal regulations and the agency's textile rules despite receiving warning letters in 2010. More than 70 other companies also received the bamboo warning letters, according to officials.
In 2013, Amazon, Macy's and Hoffman Estates-based Sears were among retailers that paid a combined $1.26 million to settle similar charges of mislabeling and advertising products as bamboo.
The complaints filed Wednesday allege Bed Bath Beyond mislabeled dozens of items including "Aden + Anais Bamboo 3-Pack Muslin Swaddles" and "Bamboo Blend Napkins."
Mislabeled Nordstrom products include "Bamboo Racerback Hi-Lo Dress" and "Degree Six Clothing The Bamboo Long Sleeve Tee," the FTC said.
J.C. Penney sold numerous mislabeled items including "Muk Luks 4-pk Men's Bamboo Socks," while falsely claiming bamboo gave the products antimicrobial properties, according to the FTC.
Backcountry.com also sold socks mislabeled as bamboo, similarly touting their antimicrobial properties, the agency said.
While the four retailers neither admitted nor denied the allegations, according to court documents, Bed Bath Beyond has agreed to pay $500,000, Nordstrom will pay $360,000, J.C. Penney will pay $290,000 and Backcountry.com will pay $150,000 to settle the charges.
rchannick@tribpub.com
