Applied DNA Sciences Inc (APDN)

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http://www.etextilecommunications.com/#!092314applied-dnainterdiction/cdri

Posted September 23, 2014

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Applied DNA Sciences' authentication technology was recently used to interdict a shipment of mislabeled textiles, resulting in more than $1 million of inventory held in quarantine, according to the company.

The products consist of an assortment of yarn, finished fabric and garments that could have been mislabeled, and subsequently marketed and sold in retail outlets in the United States and around the world.

Some manufacturers are known to substitute cheaper fibers during the spinning of yarn and the weaving of fabric. Fiber substitution increases the gross margin for the manufacturer, but lowers product quality, durability, colorfastness, texture and even safety. American and European fiber producers do the great majority of their manufacturing offshore, and there have been no methods to affirm label compliance until APDN’s patented DNA methods, the company said.

The company believes no other taggant can match the information content, forensic assurance of DNA, nor is there likely to ever be a taggant with better quality assurance – hence APDN’s customers and DNA-marked products are “future-proofed.”

APDN has independently purchased garments and linens at large retailer outlets: the company’s DNA authentication testing revealed in some cases that as much as 80 percent of the products tested were not compliant with their own product labels.

In the U.S., this is in violation of the Lanham Act, normally enforced by the Department of Justice and monitored by the Federal Trade Commission.

It is difficult to assess the quality of premium products, (i.e. luxury bed sheets); the typical “bed in a bag” sheets that retail for $75 or less that are labeled 100 percent Pima, may in fact contain shorter staple cotton fibers, which mean that the sheets may not perform, look as good, or in some cases start to deteriorate after a few washes.

The potential “cheating in sheeting” phenomena can involve the use a polyester finish to make the initial look and feel of the bed sheet brighter, with the intent to mislead the consumer into buying a sub-standard product.

Widely advertised thread counts, which are designed to measure the number of threads per square inch, can also be misleading to consumers: ultimately, manufacturers bank on the fact that consumers will not realize they are being sold products that are not quite as they are labeled.

“We are proud to say that Applied DNA Sciences can protect textile retailers, brand owners, buyers of fine fabrics and their suppliers and consumers from the tricks that are not revealed until the second or third wearing, as the product begins to fail,” said Dr. James Hayward, president and CEO of Applied DNA Sciences. “Our methods empower law enforcement organizations such as U.S. Customs and Border Protection. We see a new world with improved textile quality, globally.”

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions and services that can help protect products, brands, entire supply chains and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion.

Source: Applied DNA Sciences