Traced makes specific, sourced claims about named companies. This page explains exactly what those claims are based on, what they are not, and how brands or individuals can request corrections.
Traced scores are independent editorial assessments based on our analysis of publicly available information. A Low Transparency score means we have found, in our editorial judgment, that a brand scores poorly on our published 7-dimension transparency rubric. It does not mean:
— That the brand's products are unsafe or harmful
— That the brand has violated any law
— That consumers should not purchase the brand's products
— That any regulatory agency has found violations (unless we specifically cite one)
Where Traced reports on documented government actions — FDA warning letters, FTC settlements, SEC filings, court judgments — those are factual reports of public record. Where Traced characterizes a brand's practices, those are editorial opinions based on disclosed facts, and we label them as such.
Under U.S. defamation law, statements of pure opinion are constitutionally protected. Statements of fact that can be proven true or false carry a higher standard. Traced's score characterizations are editorial opinion. Our underlying factual claims — acquisition dates, prices, ingredient substitutions, regulatory actions — are statements of fact that we source to primary documents. If a factual claim is wrong, we correct it. If a characterization is disputed, we consider the challenge and update our editorial reasoning where warranted.
Every specific factual claim in a Traced investigation is sourced to a document we have reviewed. We classify sources into three tiers, and we prefer higher-tier sources wherever they are available.
Tier 3 sources are never used to support specific factual claims about a brand's practices. They provide context only. Tier 1 sources are linked or cited by document name and date wherever possible.
We take factual accuracy seriously. If you believe a Traced investigation contains a factual error — an incorrect acquisition date, an inaccurate ingredient claim, a mischaracterization of a regulatory record — we want to know.
Please include: the investigation URL, the specific claim you believe is inaccurate, and a link or copy of the primary source document supporting your correction. General objections to a score without specific factual disputes will be logged but are unlikely to result in changes.
Traced does not accept advertising, sponsorship, or affiliate revenue from any food, supplement, or consumer brand. Scores are not for sale. A brand cannot pay to improve its score, remove an investigation, or suppress a finding.
Traced does not have financial relationships with any of the local vendors featured in the Local Discovery section. Vendor profiles reflect our editorial assessment of sourcing practices; they are not paid placements.
If Traced ever introduces revenue streams that could create conflicts — sponsored content, affiliate links, brand partnerships — we will disclose those relationships prominently on the relevant pages and in this policy.
Traced's investigations are protected under several well-established legal frameworks:
First Amendment opinion protection. Editorial scores, characterizations, and analytical conclusions are constitutionally protected opinion. The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently held that statements of pure opinion, clearly identified as such, cannot form the basis of a defamation claim.
Fair report privilege. Reports on government actions — FDA recalls, FTC settlements, SEC investigations, court filings — are protected under the fair report privilege when accurately reported from public records.
Truth as absolute defense. For our factual claims — acquisition dates, prices, ingredient substitutions — truth is a complete defense to any defamation claim. We source these claims to primary documents specifically because documented truth is our strongest protection.
Traced is published by [Entity Name], LLC. The LLC structure separates publishing liability from personal assets of the founders. If you are a legal representative of a brand featured on Traced and wish to discuss our reporting, please contact [email protected]. We do not respond to demands that do not identify specific factual errors with supporting primary source documentation.
Nothing on this site constitutes legal, medical, or financial advice. Traced is an editorial publication.