Do you read the labels on the products you buy?

Teri Ann Renee Paisley, Gleaner Online Writer

Reading is a fundamental skill and one in which we hone after years spent in the education system. After all that instruction, it is expected that consumers read the labels on the products that they buy.

However, in this fast paced world where information is usually conveyed in the media and on the Internet, reading has taken a back seat on the information superhighway.

That being said, it is vital that consumers understand the value of reading labels. There are many benefits to examining the label such as noting the expiry date on the product before purchasing it which can save consumers from the inconvenience of trying to get a refund.

If you are an allergy sufferer then it is imperative that the ingredients of the product are examined to prevent a potentially dangerous attack. Sometimes too the product is mislabeled and this can lead to further problems, so consumers must be attentive.

Besides these concerns, I wanted to alert consumers about another issue that pertains to reading labels.
On more than one occasion while shopping, I have found that reading even the fine print can be beneficial.

Once while shopping in a popular Kingston pharmacy I read the fine print on a label of a product I was about to buy and found a disturbing message.

The message on the item read,’This product contains certain chemicals that have been found in the state of California to cause birth defects, cancer or other reproductive harm’.

Now that certainly sounds like a serious warning doesn’t it?
What was this warning label on? Was I buying some sinister drug?

No it was on an innocent looking copper/bronze headband.

Checks with the store owner revealed that she had never read the fine print on the label before and had simply gotten the item from a regular supplier overseas.

Apparently the warning is standard on products sold in California, U.S.A. if they contain chemicals on the Proposition 65 list and the amount of exposure caused by the product is not within defined safety limits.

The warning can also be found on a wide variety of household items including zippered mattress covers, bicycles, products containing brass, cookware, cosmetics, exercise mats, ceramic ware and glassware, clothing, fake leather upholstery, headphone cables, jewelry, lunchboxes, poker chips, luggage, and accessories.

The warning is intended for consumers to make an informed decision as they are not claiming the product will definitely cause any harm but there is an acknowledged risk.

It is certainly vital that all consumers read the labels on all products they purchase to ensure that they don’t get more than they bargained for!

So do you read all the labels on your purchases?
Let me hear from you!

Tags: Food, labels, safety