16 December 2013

Perplexing Packaging

It's cold. So, I stopped at the Greenmarket for a hot cider on the way into the office, as I am wont to do. The guy put the cup down in front of me, while I fumbled for some money. And out of the corner of my eye, I read the numbers on the (unsidedown) lid.

today's date on a cup lid

12/16? Why's today's date on the lid? Is it an expiration date for what, the cider?

It took longer than it should have for me to realize that it read 12/16/20 - as in, what size cup in ounces the lid was for. I probably should have been at Starbucks buying coffee.

* * * * * * * * *

Puttering around my kitchen this weekend, I was bemused by the labeling on two household staples.

The bacon was marked as gluten free.

gluten free bacon

The sugar was marked as fat free.

fat-free sugar

Am I especially enlightened in that I already knew that bacon is gluten free and sugar is fat free? Because, frankly, I thought everyone knew that, in which case, WHY ARE THE PACKAGERS TELLING US THINGS WE KNOW?

4 comments:

  1. Heide Estes4:05 PM

    I have no idea how bacon is processed, but I'm going to guess that it might get near products like fish sticks and chicken nuggets, so for someone with celiac, that might be worthwhile information. But "fat free" sugar seems like really insidious marketing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. readersguide4:22 PM

    Here, have a jelly bean!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jeanne9:48 AM

    chocolate-covered bacon is gluten free!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Corvi2:42 PM

    My all-time favorite was the large plastic barrel of pork rinds, proudly marked "Lo Carb!" Uh huh.

    ReplyDelete

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