Carter’s has received reports that some infants with sensitive skin could be allergic to heat-transferred, or “tag-less,” labels used in baby and infant clothing, including Carter’s clothing. Children with such an allergy may develop a localized rash in the general area of the label on the upper back. Naturally, we are very concerned about any child who may have had a skin rash while wearing our garments, and we have been looking into this matter thoroughly.

We have conducted an internal review of the product and test results, required our label manufacturers to do the same, and coordinated with several independent experts, including physicians, to provide their analyses. Our review and testing provide no indication that the labels contain any known skin irritants or abrasive chemicals, or that such a rash is anything beyond a rare allergic reaction to an otherwise safe product. We have received reports of rashes on a very small fraction of 1% of the garments that we’ve sold with these labels.

Nevertheless, we have been working closely with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and on October 25, 2008 we issued a joint advisory to alert consumers to the situation.

The reported skin rashes have been associated with tag-less labels used in our Fall 2007 product line. These labels have a solid, rather than stenciled, background. Prior and current Carter’s product lines utilize labels with stenciled backgrounds and have not been linked to skin rashes.

If your child develops such an allergic reaction, you should stop using the garment that caused the reaction. If the condition persists, please contact your pediatrician for advice. You may return any item that you are not satisfied with for a full refund. Our Consumer Affairs staff can help with that return.

Carter’s is committed to being the industry leader in product safety and quality. All of our products must pass rigorous third-party testing to ensure they meet the highest safety and quality standards and are compliant with all laws and regulations. We take pride in knowing that parents rely on us to provide trusted products that help make their lives simpler. As always, Carter’s is here to answer any questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to contact our Consumer Affairs center anytime at 1-888-282-4674 or by e-mail at contactus@carters.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About “Tag-Less” Labels

How can parents tell if they have one of the labels from Fall 2007?
These labels have a raised surface with a solid, rather than stenciled, background.


Fall 2007 Label with solid background, which has been associated with rashes.


Spring 2008 Label with stenciled background, which has not been associated with rashes.

What should I do if my child has a reaction to a tag-less label?
You should stop using the garment that caused the reaction. If the condition persists, please contact your pediatrician for advice. We also encourage anyone with questions or comments to contact us at 1-888-282-4674 or by e-mail at contactus@carters.com.

Is this reaction serious?
It is our understanding that the reaction is a type of allergic reaction called contact dermatitis and that it generally clears up completely within a matter of days after removal from contact with the allergen. If the condition persists, please contact your pediatrician for advice.

What about the reports that this isn’t an allergy but is actually a “chemical burn?”
At this point, all of the information we have received from our doctors, researchers, label manufacturers and even many consumers, points to this being an allergic reaction.

We have been assured by our label manufacturers and other experts that these labels contain no abrasive chemicals or irritants. The doctors and experts we’ve spoken to told us that if this reaction was a “chemical burn,” then nearly everyone who came in contact with the labels would have had the same reaction. And that’s just not what we are seeing; it continues to be a very rare reaction.

What is in the labels?
We purchase the tag-less labels directly from multiple U.S.-based label suppliers. The suppliers are aware of our quality and safety standards and have provided us with third-party test results that indicate that the labels are in compliance with all existing safety and quality standards. The label contains the standard ink formulation used by many companies on literally billions of garments in the United States. The label is applied by means of a standard screen transfer, similar to an iron-on screen print, the same type of technology used for many years and on many types of garments. The specific ingredients and relative percentages of the ink formula for the label vary depending on the colors and style of the particular label, but it is our understanding from the manufacturers that it is generally the same type of ink that has been used on clothing for many years ranging from children's clothing to adult intimate apparel.

It appears that a very small percentage of children can be allergic to one or more ingredients in the labels. The solid, rather than stenciled, background on the Fall 2007 labels appears to have produced a more pronounced and noticeable reaction among those children who are most allergic to the ink. For stylistic reasons, Carter’s has switched back to the smaller labels for our Spring and Fall 2008 line.

Where are these products manufactured?
We purchase the tag-less labels from multiple U.S.-based suppliers. The garments in which these labels were used were manufactured in various foreign countries, including Guatemala, China and the Philippines.

What kind of testing do you do on Carter’s clothing before it is available to consumers?
Carter’s garments fully comply with all existing quality and safety regulations applicable to children's clothing. There are approximately 50 different tests and standards applicable to these garments. These include strict standards for: flammability, strength, colorfastness, fit, comfort and content. The various testing that we perform on all our garments allows us to check for known irritants, toxins and other substances that are banned from children’s clothing. Each year our suppliers must also provide us with certification ensuring their products contain no banned substances.

Why did Carter’s originally switch to tag-less labels?
Switching to tag-less labels was done in an effort to respond to consumers’ concerns. For years the clothing industry dealt with complaints about fabric tags causing irritation in people’s necks, particularly children. In response, Carter’s (and the apparel industry in general) moved towards tag-less labels as a general improvement for our consumers.

Is there a recall on the Fall 2007 products?
Carter’s has used tag-less labels on hundreds of millions of products and our experience with these labels is that they are safe. Carter’s has coordinated directly with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on this issue.

If there is no recall then why did Carter’s issue a release with the CPSC?
Naturally, we are very concerned about any child who may have had a skin rash while wearing our garments. We worked closely with the CPSC to issue a release to make sure that consumers are alerted to the situation in the event that their infant has an allergic reaction. We are continuing to work closely with the CPSC to assess updated information we receive and how we communicate that to our customers.

What do I do if I’m not satisfied with my Carter’s clothing?
As is our standard policy, consumers may return any item that they are not satisfied with for a full refund. Our Consumer Affairs staff can be reached at 1-888-282-4674 or by email at contactus@carters.com, and will help with that return.

How long does the refund process typically take and what can I expect?
Generally a refund will take about three weeks from the initial contact a consumer makes with us. After the contact, we send the consumer a prepaid envelope or box. Once we receive that envelope or box back, together with the corresponding receipt, if available, we categorize and total the products, provide the information to accounting, and then send out the refund check.