Color Fixation of Meats Part 2: Labeling of Products

There are a lot of groups out there that want more information being put on the labels of consumables. Good, I have no problem with having informed consumers. But what about educated consumers? That is a whole different story. History shows that if someone isn't educated regarding what they are being informed about, then quite often people make rash decisions. "A little bit of information is a dangerous thing." How many products didn't make it, even though they are good and healthy, just because the consumer didn't appreciate it. It took a long time for organics to catch on simply because these type of products are smaller and more unsightly, while very perishable and expensive. People looked at them and thought they were bad, then saw the price and thought, why would I pay so much for that? As people were educated, things changed.

Back to the meat story. Most people equate carbon monoxide with car exhaust...so even though it is harmless when ingested, how many consumers are educated enough to know that? (I say "educated," because someone who is just informed might say, "That is stupid, because everyone knows carbon monoxide kills.") You may say, "Well, let them decide." Ummm...in theory Yes, in practice, No. Do you know why the Atkins Diet worked? Was it because dieters were educated on what was going on? No. The Atkins Diet worked because of marketing, not science and education. The Atkins Diet is a very unhealthy way to go, but consumers took it all--bait, line, and sinker--because of the good ol' bandwagon. They were informed that it was a fast way to lose weight, but were not educated about the long term effects of being on the diet.

So how a product is presented is a big deal. Companies are out to market their product, not educate the consumer. They want you to love it and buy it, not get a degree from reading the label. It is supposed to be "The Best," "The Cheapest," "Low Calorie," "High Nutrition," "All Natural" ("all natural" is a big "so what" in my book, and that is from a health and toxicology point of view). To protect the consumerr the government steps in to make sure things don't go too far where people are being deceived and that products are no longer safe.

But how much do you want to know, even if you are informed AND educated? Do you want to know what each of those "natural and artificial" flavors are? (Actually you can't know because often the specific chemicals and proportions are proprietary). Do you want to know that that special tang in Product X comes from a skunk cabbage extract? Even if it is safe, everytime you eat Product X, you will be thinking of those nasty plants.

America is such a legalistic society, that the fine print is demanded. But as the amount of fine print increases, the number of readers (let alone EDUCATED READERS) decreases. So, in labeling a product, the really important stuff is included, while the unimportant (like carbon monoxide) often is not included.