In a recent study conducted by Consumer Reports, more than 60 percent of people interviewed claimed they would gladly shell out more money for American made products—even if those products cost an average of 10 percent more than products sourced internationally. Read more
September 26, 2014 – (Manchester, CT) Bravo of Manchester, CT recalls select lots of Bravo Turkey and Chicken pet foods for dogs and cats because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recalled product was distributed nationwide beginning on November 14, 2013 to distributors, retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers. The product can be identified by the batch ID code (best used by date) printed on the side of the plastic tube.
RAW FOOD DIET BRAVO! TURKEY BLEND FOR DOGS AND CATS
Product Number: 31-102
Size: 2 lb. (32 OZ) plastic tubes
Best used by date: 11-05-15
UPC: 829546311025
Keep Frozen
Bravo! Blends All Natural Chicken Blend diet for dogs & cats
Product Number: 21-102
Size: 2 lb. (32 OZ) plastic tubes
Best used by date: 08-11-16
UPC: 829546211028
Keep Frozen
Premium Turkey Formula BRAVO Balance RAW DIET
Product Number: 31-405
Size: 5 lb. (80 OZ) 2.3KG plastic tubes
Best used by date: 11-05-15
UPC: 829546314057
Keep Frozen
Bravo! Blends All Natural Chicken Blend diet for dogs & cats
Product Number: 21-105
Size: 5 lb. (80 OZ) 2.3KG plastic tubes
Best used by date: 08-11-16
UPC: 829546211059
Keep Frozen
Bravo Recalls Pet Foods Possible Salmonella Health Risk
The recall was initiated after routine testing by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella in two lots of product. This batch tested negative by a third party independent laboratory prior to release for distribution to consumers.
No additional products affected by this recall. The company has received no reports of illness in either people or animals associated with these products to date.
In addition to the voluntary recall of the above products, Bravo has chosen to voluntarily withdraw the following poultry products from the marketplace to provide its customers with the certainty of safety. Those products include all sizes (2 lb., 5 lb. and 10 lb.) of Bravo Chicken Blend(s), Bravo Turkey Blend(s), Bravo Balance Chicken Balance and Bravo Balance Premium Turkey Formula frozen raw diet products with best used by dates between June 20, 2016 and September 18, 2016. This is being done out of an abundance of caution despite no evidence of any manufacturing defect or distribution problem. None of these products are known to have tested positive for the presence of pathogens. This market withdrawal has NOT been requested by the FDA, but is being done voluntarily by Bravo.
The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners who have the affected product at home should dispose of this product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle). Customers who have purchased the recalled pet food can return to the store where purchased and submit the Product Recall Claim Form available on the Bravo website www.bravopetfoods.com
for a full refund or store credit. More information on the Bravo recall can also be found a www.bravopetfoods.com, or call toll free (866) 922-9222 Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST).
SOURCE: FDA
The assembly line at a New Balance factory in Boston in 2012. Associated Press
New Balance—the iconic U.S. sneaker maker—has long marched to its own drummer on “Made in USA” labels. Read more
 | Diamond Gusset is proud to announce that it has moved all its production to a new 27,000 square foot facility. It is a modern, clean facility that offers a great working environment. Much of the equipment has been updated.As this facility is also located in Blue Ridge GA., we were able to retain all existing employees and we are in the process of increasing our workforce. |
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 Connect with Diamond Gusset | Diamond Gusset jean Company was founded in 1987 to develop an entirely new jean concept utilizing a gusset for extra durability and enhanced comfort.Since that time, we’ve seen many changes in the apparel industry, and by most accounts we should have disappeared along with many other companies that have struggled so hard to survive in this global economy. But instead of survive, we are actually growing stronger now more than ever, and while most companies have gone offshore, merged, or have been totally eliminated, we’ve managed to grow on our foundations. Those foundations are simple….we provide the most comfortable jean available while keeping one eye on history and the other on careful craftsmanship and continual improvement. This combination of tradition and innovation is one key why our customers are our best supporters of brand growth by continually providing vital “ word of mouth “ advertising for us.Peoples needs really haven’t changed that much, but it seems that while other companies seem to be chasing dollars, we have remained focused on the goal….THE PRODUCT, and besides, what’s the point in running a company if you can’t be proud of how you operate? We were taught long ago that if you mind your business well, and provide a great AMERICAN product, then the rest will follow…and you know, life is too short as it is…so why compromise? We don’t and we don’t think you should either.Our vow to stay 100% American Made has struck a nerve with the American psyche. It is a great feeling to walk into our production facility and see all the happy smiles and feel a sense purpose knowing we are part of the solution America is now facing. Sincerely |
In an update of its investigation last week, the FDA said it found that antiviral drug amantadine in some samples of imported chicken jerky treats sold a year or more ago, but doesn’t think it caused the illnesses. The FDA said it will continue to investigate.
Rival Petco announced on Tuesday that it would remove all Chinese-made treats from its 1,300 stores by the end of this year after shoppers pushed them to do so. The San Diego company said it has been cutting the number of those treats it sells over the past three years.
PetSmart Inc., which is based in Phoenix, owns more than 1,300 stores in North America.
“Always be aware of what you’re buying and where it’s coming from,” Levine said.
Yet that may not always be enough to keep pets safe; products stamped “Made in the USA” could still contain ingredients sourced from China or other countries, the FDA warned.
The FDA has partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to figure out what foods may be contributing to pet disease. The study will compare the foods eaten by sick dogs to those eaten by dogs who haven’t gotten sick, in order to determine if the jerky is really the culprit.
So far, testing of jerky pet treats from China revealed low levels of antibiotics as well as the antiviral drug amantadine in some chicken samples. Although FDA-approved for pain-control applications in humans and in dogs, the agency prohibited its use in poultry in 2006 to help preserve its effectiveness.
The FDA does not believe amantadine contributed to the illnesses, as the side effects of the drug do not correlate with the symptoms seen in the pets; however, amantadine should not be present at all in jerky treats.
Chinese authorities have agreed to conduct additional screenings and follow up with jerky treat manufacturers, and the FDA has notified U.S. treat makers of the presence of amantadine in some jerky products. The agency will also continue testing these products for drugs and other antivirals.
The FDA cautioned pet owners that jerky pet treats are not required for a balanced diet. If your pet experiences any sign of illness, including vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy, contact your veterinarian right away.
At this cost level, the Moto X comes roughly in the middle of the combined BOM and manufacturing costs of the leading smartphone models, Apple Inc.’s iPhone 5 and Samsung’s Galaxy S4. The U.S. version of the Galaxy S4 with 16 gigabytes (GByte) of NAND flash memory carries a total BOM and manufacturing cost of $237. Meanwhile, the 16Gbyte iPhone 5 costs $207.
While the manufacturing expense of the Moto X is $3.50 to $4.00 more than these phones, the total cost to make Motorola’s smartphone is only 9 percent more than the iPhone 5—and about 5 percent less than the Galaxy S4.
“With the Moto X, Motorola is reaping the public-relations and customization upsides of producing a smartphone in the United States, while maintaining competitive hardware costs,” said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director, cost benchmarking services for IHS. “The Moto X’s electronic components are comparable to other cutting-edge smartphones on the market today. However, the product doesn’t break much new ground in terms of its hardware. Furthermore, in spite of its ‘Made in the USA’ label, overall costs are still competitive with similar smartphones. Our initial estimate suggests the additional costs of onshoring the Moto X are relatively low.”
Made in the USA—and priced to sell
“Motorola has been generating a great deal of publicity regarding the Moto X’s production in Texas,” said Wayne Lam, senior analyst for wireless communications at IHS. “However, beyond the public relations boon, the domestic manufacturing allows Motorola to rapidly assemble custom versions of the phone for customers in the United States. Motorola can deliver a customized Moto X to AT&T wireless subscribers in just four days.”
The 16Gbyte Moto X has a full retail price of $540 or $580 when customized with Motorola’s Moto Maker purchase and design service. With a two-year service contract from AT&T, consumers can obtain a Moto X for $199.
“An examination of the retail and contract pricing indicates that Motorola receives carrier subsidies of slightly more than $300 per handset when purchased on contract, whereas Apple’s iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy S4 command larger subsidies of more than $400 per contract,” Lam noted. “Therefore, Motorola is definitely vying to become the lower-cost alternative to Apple and Samsung for the wireless carrier partners.”
On the beaten path
“One of the most remarkable things about the electronic design of the U.S.-made Moto X is how unremarkable it is compared to Asian-assembled smartphones,” Rassweiler said. “IHS Teardown has already seen almost all of the components in Moto X in other products. With its use of a Qualcomm-based design, the Moto X could easily be mistaken for a smartphone made by HTC or Samsung, if it weren’t for the Motorola logo. The use of components that are already shipping in high volume allows Motorola to keep costs down.”
Qualcomm in quantity
The Moto X is based on a Qualcomm turnkey design and makes maximum use of the supplier’s semiconductors. Qualcomm-made chips in the Moto X include the MSM8960 apps/baseband processor; the WTR1605L radio frequency (RF) transceiver; the WCD9310 audio codec; the PM8921 power management integrated circuit (IC); and the WCN3680 Bluetooth, frequency modulation and wireless local area network companion IC.
While most of the design was familiar, this was the first time that the WCN3680 was seen in a product torn down by IHS. This device supports the 802.11ac WLAN standard, which is in the initial acceptance stage, but soon will become the standard in smartphones.
Figure 8
The MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Pro Apps Processor appears to be a variant of the same part that has appeared in other devices, including the HTC One X, the Blackberry Z10 and the North American version of the Galaxy S III.
At the same time, Motorola is promoting its X8 Mobile Computing System.
Company marketing materials strongly suggest, based upon a visual examination of a Motorola-labeled integrated circuit and other observations, that its X8 Mobile Computing System is a system-on-chip (SoC) solution from Motorola featuring eight cores.
Upon further inspection, the X8 is not an SoC, and is not a Motorola chip. Rather, the X8 Mobile Computing System is a design architecture that spreads the eight cores across at least two integrated circuits—including the Qualcomm MSM8960 and a Texas Instruments digital signal processor/microcontroller.
The Moto X also uses microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) microphones from Wolfson Microphones, marking the first time that IHS has seen these parts from this supplier in any product. Wolfson’s forte in the past was audio codec chips.
Battery life
The Moto X makes very efficient use of its battery by managing the power consumption of its apps processor and display.
Instead of taxing the apps processor for simple tasks like displaying notifications, the Moto X employs a secondary low-power contextual core to run the display when the phone is powered off. The Moto X’s active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display only lights up small portions of the 4.7-inch screen to display time and notifications like email, text and missed calls, extending the battery life to a 24-hour usable experience.
As with all AMOLED displays, each pixel illuminates and thus is inherently more energy efficient than LCDs, where the entire panel is illuminated.
User Friendliness
The Moto X includes several features designed to enhance ergonomics and the user experience.
On the ergonomics front, the smartphone employs a 4.7-inch display with minimum bevels and a rounded/curved backside with an indented index finger rest. While not the largest display available on a smartphone, it makes the Moto X easier to hold and use.
In terms of user experience, the Moto X is the first smartphone to include an “always-on/listening” or “open-mic” front end. The always-on/listening system is trained to listen for magic commands from the owner’s voice to activate Google Now interactions.
The system also supports ge
sture-based interactions using the gyroscope. For example, a double-twist gesture will launch the Moto X’s camera application.
Founder Caroline Eager stated, “We are geared to serve students who travel by plane and don’t want to pay excessive baggage fees to ship their dorm bedding”, adding, “our dorm bundles include everything the student needs in the way of bedding, including comforters, sheets, pillows, mattress pad, foam topper, towels, and accessories”.
American Made Dorm® manufactures all of its dorm and home bedding in the USA. In addition, their fabrics are sourced and produced in North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi. Caroline Eager visits the mills several times a month and is hands-on in the development of both manufacturing standards and quality control. “This is the difference between what we produce and what you buy that is made overseas,” states Carol Ann Anderson, Partner. “We have input and control over the construction of the bedding and the quality of the end product”.
The dorm bedding season, June – August, requires significant inventory available over a short period of time. As a result, American Made Dorm® partnered this spring with PBDWorldwide in Atlanta, Georgia. As their fulfillment center, PBD will fill dorm bedding and bundle orders within 48 hours. PBD was chosen out of a large network of fulfillment centers based on their wide range of services and their ability to accommodate American Made Dorm’s rapidly growing business.
Henry has been in the apparel business for three decades, enough to see nearly all of his competitors disband or head overseas in search of workers who will do the job for lower wages. Henry has taken the opposite route, shrinking the geographic scope of his supply chain and making that a marketing feature.
His company makes its products “dirt to shirt” through a supply chain that spans only 600 miles and boasts complete transparency. Customers are invited to use a website to input a special code emblazoned on the back of every shirt. The site then serves up the name, photo and contact information for every person whose labors went into creating the product, from the farmer who grew the cotton to the workers who print and dye the shirts.
His “most sustainable” T-shirt, which uses certified organic cotton, a transparent supply chain, with a patented environmentally-friendly print and dye system, costs around $14 wholesale. The same type of shirt would cost about $8 to make overseas, he estimated. In short, the $6 gap.
The difference comes down to paychecks. Workers at TS Designs in North Carolina are paid an average of $15 an hour, Henry said. The average factory worker in Bangladesh makes $0.21 an hour, according to the Institute of Global Labor and Human Rights.
“Our T-shirts cost more because of where they’re made and how they’re made,” said Henry, admitting that he can’t compete on price alone.
In the wake of the worst garment industry accident in history — the collapse of a factory in Bangladesh, which took the lives of more than 600 people — attention is again focused on the full costs of churning out low-priced goods via a global supply chain. Consumers are absorbing another reminder that bargains on store shelves in Los Angeles and Philadelphia may come at the expense of people toiling in unsafe conditions in Dhaka and Guatemala City.
For Henry and like-minded entrepreneurs in the U.S. — those seeking to buck the trends of global trade by manufacturing at home — the hope is that this consumer awareness may expand their market niche.
Online apparel retailer American Giant, for instance, does not compete with the world’s largest apparel brands on price. A men’s T-shirt bearing its label runs $24.50 — roughly four times more than its most inexpensive counterpart on the shelves at Walmart, Target or some other enormous retailer.
Ask the company’s chief executive, Bayard Winthrop, about disparity in price and he will tell you about the workmanship and quality of raw materials that goes into his T-shirts. But he will also tell you about geography: His shirts are made in America, and not on the other side of the world, in a poor country in which workers may be mistreated.
“I need to give that consumer an option for a product from a company that fits their system of beliefs,” Winthrop said.
Winthrop’s emphasis on quality is both a virtue and a necessity. Even mighty Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, could satisfy the consumer craving for low prices if it made its wares exclusively in the United States, he said.
“Can Walmart make a $5 tee in the U.S.? Probably not,” Winthrop said. “But can they make a $9 tee that lasts longer and made in the U.S.? Yes they could.”
Using hypothetical figures, Winthrop explained that if a manufacturer makes a T-shirt for $6 in the U.S., $3 of that would be fabric and design, while the other $3 would be labor. If you take production overseas, the labor cost would be less than $1. The fabric and design cost doesn’t change much, he said, especially for a simple piece of apparel like a T-shirt.
So vast is the apparel and so large the companies involved that they have hop-scotched the globe in permanent pursuit of lower labor prices somewhere new. In the United States, some 97 percent of all apparel is now imported, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association.
This pursuit of lower prices through globalization amounts to a “race to the bottom,” said Pietra Rivoli, a professor of finance and international business at Georgetown University, and author of the book The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy.
“This industry is so mobile that it gets fixed in one place and then pops up somewhere else,” Rivoli said.
But American apparel manufacturing may eventually see a resurgence, some experts said. The garment industry is undergoing the kind of technological change reshaping many industries: Machines are increasingly attending to tasks once performed by humans. That undercuts the overall cost advantages of going overseas in search of cheaper labor. As automation emerges as a greater force in the apparel trade, that could send investment back to the United States, where mastery of machinery remains a core strength.
“Technological progress has taken away the worst part of many jobs,” said Rivoli.
Right now, complicated tasks are still done by humans, such as the manual addition of buttons and zippers to clothing. But that is changing.
“It’s gradually mechanizing,” said Rivoli. “If you can get that to be 100 percent true and it’s machines that are producing our T-shirts, then companies aren’t going to be chasing around the world for those labor costs.”
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