Why Mattress Tag Removal Is Illegal In the US

Why is mattress tag removal illegal in the US?

Somewhere along the way in your life, you may have heard you are not supposed to remove the tags from your mattresses or pillows, as it violates the law.

Many mattresses still have tags that state something like “It is unlawful to remove this tag”. These are the tags you may find at the end of pillows, or at the foot of your mattress, these tags are there to protect you.

The main reasons for the tags are to let you as the buyer know that you are buying a new, never been used mattress and to let you know what the contents inside are, whether it’s feathers memory foam etc.

According to US law, it is only unlawful to remove the tags from products before sales and deliveries.

US regulations state that it’s illegal to:

Remove or damage or cause damage to items before they reach the consumer. It is also, illegal to participate in the removal or damage of materials of a product.

Any stamp, tag, label, or other identification required by the company to be affixed to the textile fibre product.

Any person violating this section shall be guilty of an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act or practice, under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, government officials had become concerned over the materials companies were using to make their mattresses. 

To cut the cost for businesses some companies decided to use recycled and old bedding materials for stuffing, into new mattresses. Therefore, the new mattresses were full of bacteria and contained bug-infested stuffing. If state establishments discovered that mattresses are being sold without the proper tags, the seriousness of the penalty can vary from notice to terminate, removing the labels, or to correct incorrect tags, to a citation and a fine of up to $1,000.