Truth in Labeling?

Maybe most people don't read labels, but I do. And, I read them carefully. But, lately, I have noticed that the labels don't seem to be aiming at telling you what is in the product so much as they are either trying to avoid lawsuits or they are just trying to jump on the latest marketing bandwagon.

I bought a bottle of saline nose spray – the kind that only has saline solution in it so you can use it as often as you want to moisturize your nose. Right there on the label it says "gluten free". Why would they put that on the label for nose spray? Do they think that someone might actually miss their nose and get it in their mouth and accidentally swallow enough to cause a problem with someone who has a gluten allergy? But, even if that were the case, THERE IS NOTHING IN THE INGREDIENTS THAT COULD POSSIBLY CONTAIN GLUTEN. So, the whole label is pointless! It's just an attempt to go along with the whole gluten free marketing blitz.

Then there is the jar of dry roasted unsalted peanuts. The only thing in the jar are shelled peanuts. Here is the list of ingredients: PEANUTS. But, right below the list of ingredients (and can you call one item a list??), there is this disclaimer: "May contain cashews, almonds, brazilnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, macadamia nuts, walnuts, coconut, soy, milk, wheat". Really? Milk and wheat?? No, I am looking at the peanuts in the jar and, really, it's only peanuts. So, did they list every possible ingredient that someone could have an allergy to just to avoid any lawsuits? I think so, because there is no other reason to list all of those things.

Then, we have just stupid stuff. On the bag of Lay's Lightly Salted Potato Chips it says, "It all starts with farm grown potatoes" (emphasis theirs). Only farm grown potatoes are used? Where else are potatoes grown? In a greenhouse? Not so much. Potatoes are grown in the ground. There would not be root vegetables like potatoes grown in a greenhouse. So, let's think of where else they could be grown. Hmmmm, maybe in a barrel in someone's backyard? Sure, but how many backyards and barrels would it take to make a few million bags of potato chips. So, this is just pure stupidity.

So, those are my examples of "not so truth" in labeling. Have some fun. Next time you pick up an item at the grocery store, see what insane stuff they put on the labels. What's sad is the stuff they DON'T put on the labels that is really important, oh like all the fillers they put in spices that they don't have to list. And, it can be up to 50% filler! Happy shopping!