National Advertising Division Recommends Kimberly-Clark Discontinue Huggies “#1 Best Fitting Diaper” Claims and Modify Others

New York, NY – February 8, 2024 – In a challenge brought by The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division recommended that Kimberly-Clark Inc. (K-C) discontinue claims that Huggies is the “#1 Best Fitting Diaper” and modify its advertising to, among other things, avoid conveying that its diapers have a superior fit over all diapers on the market, including those sold by P&G under its Pampers brand.

The National Advertising Division (NAD) also concluded that the advertising did not reasonably convey that all Huggies brand diapers provide superior leakage protection.

P&G challenged K-C’s television commercials, print, digital media, and website claims that K-C’s diapers are the “#1 Best Fitting Diaper.”

NAD concluded that some consumers may reasonably take away the message that the “#1 Best Fitting Diaper” claims are true of all Huggies diapers rather than the Little Movers or Little Snugglers products. NAD noted that K-C did not provide any evidence of the superior fit of Huggies-branded diapers other than Little Movers.

With respect to Little Movers, NAD determined that K-C’s study did not provide a reasonable basis for its #1 diaper fit claims and recommended discontinuance of the claims.

NAD further recommended that K-C modify its advertising to avoid conveying the following messages:

• All Huggies branded diapers provide a superior fit versus all diapers on the market.
• Because Huggies diapers have the [“most curves”] [a “curved and stretchy fit”], they will provide a better fit/better conform to baby’s shape during wear, than other diapers on the market.
• Because Huggies diapers have the [“most curves”] [a “curved and stretchy fit”] when stretched and laid flat they will provide a better fit/better conform to a baby’s shape during wear than other diapers on the market.
• Huggies Little Movers diapers provide superior fit versus all diapers on the market.

Regarding leak protection claims, NAD determined that K-C’s commercial and website do not reasonably convey a message of superior leakage protection versus other products.

Some variations of the challenged #1 claim appear in the context of a side-by-side comparison of the Huggies diaper with a Pampers diaper. The comparison depicts an open   Huggies diaper next to a Pampers diaper. Curved dotted lines are drawn to the left and right of the Huggies diaper, highlighting its curved sides.

While NAD determined that, independent of the #1 Diaper Fit claims, the display of the diapers side-by-side did not convey a superiority message requiring support on K-C’s website and in the Little Movers commercial, it recommended that K-C modify the side-by-side comparison so that the dotted lines are used to depict equivalent parts of each diaper. During the proceeding, K-C voluntarily agreed to modify the dotted lines that appear on the side-by-side comparison to more accurately represent the Pampers’ diaper absorbent core.

NAD further recommended that K-C modify the side-by-side comparison in the Little Snugglers commercial, with the claim that “only Huggies has the most curves to fit your delicate skin,” to avoid conveying the message that Huggies have a superior fit due to having more curves.

In its advertiser statement, K-C stated that it “will comply with NAD’s recommendations” and that it “respectfully disagrees with NAD’s conclusions related to the #1 fit claims.”

All BBB National Programs case decision summaries can be found in the case decision library. For the full text of NAD, NARB, and CARU decisions, subscribe to the online archive. This press release shall not be used for advertising or promotional purposes.

About BBB National Programs: BBB National Programs, a non-profit organization, is the home of U.S. independent industry self-regulation, currently operating more than a dozen globally recognized programs that have been helping enhance consumer trust in business for more than 50 years. These programs provide third-party accountability and dispute resolution services that address existing and emerging industry issues, create a fairer playing field for businesses, and a better experience for consumers. BBB National Programs continues to evolve its work and grow its impact by providing business guidance and fostering best practices in arenas such as advertising, child-and-teen-directed marketing, data privacy, dispute resolution, automobile warranty, technology, and emerging areas. To learn more, visit bbbprograms.org.

About the National Advertising Division: The National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs provides independent self-regulation and dispute resolution services, guiding the truthfulness of advertising across the U.S. The National Advertising Division reviews national advertising in all media and its decisions set consistent standards for advertising truth and accuracy, delivering meaningful protection to consumers and leveling the playing field for business.

Contact:

Jennie Rosenberg
Media Relations
BBB National Programs
[email protected]