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 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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of Transportation standards for helmets have barely changed since they were set back in 74 based on flawed and already outdated data, and helmet manufacturers self report whether their helmets conform.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 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
They also made Jeremy stop jacking off into the dough.
Asafum@feddit.nl 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
I like to get the salads from Kroger sometimes and they are all labeled “SALAD” haha
vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
not eat premade (as in made at the supermarket) food from the supermarket?
ManixT@lemmy.world 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
Whatever that is it would go good with hot sauce
Ste41th@lemmy.ml 3 weeks ago
Person 1: “I had a $5 dinner today”
Person 2: “What did you have?”
Person 1: “Dinner”
Birch@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
What flavour?
Dinner flavour.
LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
boydster@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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 3 weeks 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!
Etterra@discuss.online 3 weeks 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 3 weeks ago
whodatdair@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Now with flavor
muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Does anyone actually know what these are
garbagebagel@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Looks like chicken strips to me
jaybone@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
Usually you wouldn’t wrap a hot meal in plastic wrap though.
doingthestuff@lemy.lol 3 weeks ago
Winner winner - chicken dinner!
Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
You don’t want to know.
meowMix2525@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Could be fish sticks
frazw@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Winner winner, mystery dinner.
Jimmycakes@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
For 4.99 I’m not asking any questions. Dinner is served baby!
thann@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
Darn, I was looking for breakfast
CannedYeet@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Gotta be Mac and Cheese inside. What the Canadians call Kraft Dinner.
Crozekiel@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
I’m gonna be honest, it looks tasty. I’d try it.
callouscomic@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Quantity of 1 dinner.
burgerpocalyse@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
i wonder whats for
stoicmaverick@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I’ll take it, and another one to-go… Side of gravy. I’m a bit of a health nut.
Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 3 weeks ago
Lewis Fresh Market, it’s what’s for Dinner.
dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
thinking_man.png
Your customers can’t compare prices with the competition if there’s nothing to compare.
Adderbox76@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Listen, the Waukegan Township homeless problem isn’t going to solve itself, you know…
Goretantath@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Welp, its spelled differently so im glad its not near me.
MummifiedClient5000@feddit.dk 3 weeks ago
catrass@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
But what will I have for lunch :/
scintilla@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Move to a place where they call lunch dinner and dinner supper. It’s simple.