To Rep. Tammy Baldwin:
I have two concerns about the labeling of consumer products:
1) Sodium hypochlorite solution (also known as Chlorox) used to be labeled, "Contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite." For three to five years the 5.25 percent has been omitted on all the containers of all brands that I have looked at. This is an inconvenience because I chlorinate my cistern water with household bleach - the Wisconsin plumbing code specifies that toilets must be flushed with potable water! I have the means for testing chlorine content, but it is a big nuisance. Who benefited from changing the requirement for the label to be quantitative? Even housewives are entitled to a consistent product when they do their laundry.
2) Coffee and tea don't have to be labeled "Contains caffeine" any more than tobacco must be labeled "Contains nicotine." The problem comes with soft drinks. They all must be labeled as such if they have added caffeine. The problem arises because some brands have been increasing the dose - they may even advertise, "Now contains more caffeine." Caffeine happens to be fully addicting. Being addicted to caffeine just doesn't happen to shorten your life either directly or indirectly (like nicotine motivates people to inhale carcinogenic tars). The problem comes from motivating people, especially children, to drink ever larger amounts of sweet drinks that contain no real nutrients.
Bottom line capitalism is OK for promoting efficiency but only if its mischief is regulated by intelligent government.
I have two concerns about the labeling of consumer products:
1) Sodium hypochlorite solution (also known as Chlorox) used to be labeled, "Contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite." For three to five years the 5.25 percent has been omitted on all the containers of all brands that I have looked at. This is an inconvenience because I chlorinate my cistern water with household bleach - the Wisconsin plumbing code specifies that toilets must be flushed with potable water! I have the means for testing chlorine content, but it is a big nuisance. Who benefited from changing the requirement for the label to be quantitative? Even housewives are entitled to a consistent product when they do their laundry.
2) Coffee and tea don't have to be labeled "Contains caffeine" any more than tobacco must be labeled "Contains nicotine." The problem comes with soft drinks. They all must be labeled as such if they have added caffeine. The problem arises because some brands have been increasing the dose - they may even advertise, "Now contains more caffeine." Caffeine happens to be fully addicting. Being addicted to caffeine just doesn't happen to shorten your life either directly or indirectly (like nicotine motivates people to inhale carcinogenic tars). The problem comes from motivating people, especially children, to drink ever larger amounts of sweet drinks that contain no real nutrients.
Bottom line capitalism is OK for promoting efficiency but only if its mischief is regulated by intelligent government.
