Are food labelling laws really that bad in the US? Can you really really buy “dinner” without having any idea what its main ingredient is?
Bachelor Chow slabs, anyone?
Submitted 1 month ago by Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com to aboringdystopia@lemmy.world
https://lemmy.dbzer0.com/pictrs/image/0aa1d424-a13d-494a-b610-ec5772efd7c2.webp
Comments
floquant@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 month ago
Anytime I read some in-depth report about food regulations in the USA my jaw drops. Favourite permanent head-shaker: the FDA relies on manufacturers self-reporting if their food is “safe” - and has been for decades.
BreakerSwitch@lemm.ee 1 month ago
It’s not just the FDA. The Department of Transportation standards for helmets have barely changed since they were set back in 74 based on flawed and already outdated data, and helmet manufacturers self report whether their helmets conform.
Hideakikarate@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
I recall a small cookie or dessert company that listed “love” as an ingredient. FDA made them take it out of the list.
FooBarrington@lemmy.world 1 month ago
They also made Jeremy stop jacking off into the dough.
Asafum@feddit.nl 1 month ago
I think this is just a supermarket thing. It’s a generic label for the purpose of their inventory system for things they make themselves as opposed to something they sell that was purchased from a primary vendor.
My supermarket has a deli I can order sandwiches from and they’ll have “lunch” or something to that effect on the label that has the barcode on it.
We do have very “strict” food labeling laws as far as what you can call a thing based on what’s in it, so much so that I basically call it “food language.” For example a product that is made with synthetic chocolate is not allowed to be called simply “chocolate,” it can be called chocolaty or I think chocolate flavored, but not “chocolate.”
Lv_InSaNe_vL@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I like to get the salads from Kroger sometimes and they are all labeled “SALAD” haha
vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Also there are some labels that are standard but not regulatory in nature, which results in the frankly beautiful stupidity that is a “non-GMO” label on a salt container.
Johandea@feddit.nu 1 month ago
Not just the main ingredient; every ingredient must be on the label where in from. What would people with allergies do otherwise?
InputZero@lemmy.world 1 month ago
It usually depends on the size of the company producing the food. It’s different from place to place but there is usually an exception in food labeling laws for very small business. So if less than X is sold, if the companies revenues surpass Y, or if anything is sold across state lines it needs a nutritional label. Otherwise they’re exempt. Doesn’t mean that the specific seller in the photo isn’t breaking the law but like everything it’s a lot more nuanced than just everything needs a label.
desktop_user@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
not eat premade (as in made at the supermarket) food from the supermarket?
ManixT@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Europe does the exact same thing with food like this - this is like going to the lunch/dinner buffet station thing at your grocery store that has a price per kg or whatever. You won’t find exact ingredients on the price tag you slap on you weighed food.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Yes. Literally everything is “natural and artificial flavoring”. Also Tic-Tacs (which are literally just compressed balls of sugar) say in the nutrition facts that they have 0g of sugar because they keep the “serving size” just below the amount where they are allowed to round down to zero.
Iheartcheese@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Whatever that is it would go good with hot sauce
Ste41th@lemmy.ml 1 month ago
Person 1: “I had a $5 dinner today”
Person 2: “What did you have?”
Person 1: “Dinner”
Birch@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
What flavour?
Dinner flavour.
boydster@sh.itjust.works 1 month ago
Just make sure you use them by last January the 9th otherwise your mystery slabs could make you sick!
toy_boat_toy_boat@lemmy.world 1 month ago
i’m a bit concerned about that label. if you look closelier, you’ll see it’s actually a date range: 1/9/25-18/8. this food doesn’t even exist yet, and when it does it’ll be good til august. but only if you’re in europe.
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 1 month ago
I see: 01.09.2025
This annoys me unreasonably because in my not-so-humble opinion that formatting is reserved for locales that sort the day before the month.
And so this date is 3 months into the future.
It’s OK for USians to do it differently, but please stick to your slash-separated 01/09/2025 format!
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Etterra@discuss.online 1 month ago
It’s deep fried, what else do you need? You’re not one of those savages that puts ketchup on everything, are you?
kryptonianCodeMonkey@lemmy.world 1 month ago
whodatdair@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
Now with flavor
muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Does anyone actually know what these are
garbagebagel@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Looks like chicken strips to me
jaybone@lemmy.zip 1 month ago
Usually you wouldn’t wrap a hot meal in plastic wrap though.
doingthestuff@lemy.lol 1 month ago
Winner winner - chicken dinner!
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 1 month ago
You don’t want to know.
meowMix2525@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Could be fish sticks
frazw@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Winner winner, mystery dinner.
Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 1 month ago
For 4.99 I’m not asking any questions. Dinner is served baby!
thann@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 month ago
Darn, I was looking for breakfast
CannedYeet@lemmy.world 1 month ago
Gotta be Mac and Cheese inside. What the Canadians call Kraft Dinner.
Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 1 month ago
I’m gonna be honest, it looks tasty. I’d try it.
callouscomic@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Quantity of 1 dinner.
burgerpocalyse@lemmy.world 1 month ago
i wonder whats for
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 1 month ago
I’ll take it, and another one to-go… Side of gravy. I’m a bit of a health nut.
Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 1 month ago
Lewis Fresh Market, it’s what’s for Dinner.
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 1 month ago
thinking_man.png
Your customers can’t compare prices with the competition if there’s nothing to compare.
Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 1 month ago
Listen, the Waukegan Township homeless problem isn’t going to solve itself, you know…
Goretantath@lemm.ee 1 month ago
Welp, its spelled differently so im glad its not near me.
MummifiedClient5000@feddit.dk 1 month ago
catrass@lemmy.zip 1 month ago
But what will I have for lunch :/
scintilla@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 month ago
Move to a place where they call lunch dinner and dinner supper. It’s simple.