4 ms·

> I don't understand what the problem is. Is it that you don't understand what the problem is, or that it makes you uncomfortable to look at the problem? Let m

> I don't understand what the problem is. Is it that you don't understand what the problem is, or that it makes you uncomfortable to look at the problem? Let me phrase a few questions that help me think about what I think the problem is in a few ways: - Do you think it's necessary or unnecessary for American regulations on advertising to exist? - Do you think it ought to be punished for products to be packaged in a deceptive manner as long as it's theoretically possible to see the base information to make a determination about the product? - Do you think that manufacturers that sell high purity goods can survive against those that diluted purity goods loaded with adulterants while concealing that and winning marketshare on volume?

chrisseaton 6y ago
I agree with advertising regulations. I don't think any situation described in this article is deceptive. I think it's up to the consumer to pick purity that meets their needs. I'm not really sure how pure 'fruit loops' can be though so I'm not sure that's relevant here. In summary, there's no moral issue here. The price by weight or volume of every product is accessible to the consumer, and they can judge the quality of the product on their own. And anyway a half gallon of ice cream is an absolutely obscene quantity, and it's a good thing producers are packaging things in more reasonable sizes.
- bosie 6y ago
  > I don't think any situation described in this article is deceptive. What do you call a sudden change of the weight/volume of a product without changing its size? Why do you think companies do that?
  - chrisseaton 6y ago
    To keep using the same packaging? I don't know. I don't care either. They're free to sell in any size box they want as far as I'm concerned, and they don't need to explain it to anyone. I buy by volume or weight. I also accept that it's natural in our economy that prices will fluctuate and don't blame it on manufacturers.
- yowlingcat 6y ago
  > I think it's up to the consumer to pick purity that meets their needs. This isn't legal for pharmaceuticals, for instance. And if this were true, what is the point of the FDA? Why was the act established in the first place, why does the administration exist? What makes food, which is just as consumable (and can also have a significant impact on one's body), any different from drugs? I think that there is a reason the act's name is called the "Pure Food And Drug Act" -- emphasis on the world "pure".
  - chrisseaton 6y ago
    There's no indication in the article that any of the products have an illegal impurity is there? Some of them have a different purity level, which may not be what you want, but someone else might be happy with at that price point. If the purity of your old brand doesn't work for you, buy a different one instead.
    - yowlingcat 6y ago
      > an illegal impurity What makes an impurity illegal in the first place? What is the difference between a legal and illegal impurity?
      - chrisseaton 6y ago
        Normally there are regulations about what you can and can't put in a food product. For example chocolate often has to contain a certain percentage of cocoa solids. But again this isn't what this article is about. This article is about food products being smaller than he'd like and in some cases less pure than he'd like. Not illegal small or illegally impure. He should just pick another product if they don't meet his requirements. He thinks he's exposing some kind of conspiracy, when really it's market prices and tastes changing.
        yowlingcat 6y ago
        > Normally there are regulations about what you can and can't put in a food product. For example chocolate often has to contain a certain percentage of cocoa solids. I hear you, but that's not exactly what I'm asking. I'm asking a more specific question: how does a thing, previously legal, comes to be illegal? What happens at a societal and legislative level for such a change to transpire?

chrisseaton 6y ago

I agree with advertising regulations. I don't think any situation described in this article is deceptive. I think it's up to the consumer to pick purity that meets their needs. I'm not really sure how pure 'fruit loops' can be though so I'm not sure that's relevant here. In summary, there's no moral issue here. The price by weight or volume of every product is accessible to the consumer, and they can judge the quality of the product on their own. And anyway a half gallon of ice cream is an absolutely obscene quantity, and it's a good thing producers are packaging things in more reasonable sizes.

bosie 6y ago
> I don't think any situation described in this article is deceptive. What do you call a sudden change of the weight/volume of a product without changing its size? Why do you think companies do that?
- chrisseaton 6y ago
  To keep using the same packaging? I don't know. I don't care either. They're free to sell in any size box they want as far as I'm concerned, and they don't need to explain it to anyone. I buy by volume or weight. I also accept that it's natural in our economy that prices will fluctuate and don't blame it on manufacturers.
yowlingcat 6y ago
> I think it's up to the consumer to pick purity that meets their needs. This isn't legal for pharmaceuticals, for instance. And if this were true, what is the point of the FDA? Why was the act established in the first place, why does the administration exist? What makes food, which is just as consumable (and can also have a significant impact on one's body), any different from drugs? I think that there is a reason the act's name is called the "Pure Food And Drug Act" -- emphasis on the world "pure".
- chrisseaton 6y ago
  There's no indication in the article that any of the products have an illegal impurity is there? Some of them have a different purity level, which may not be what you want, but someone else might be happy with at that price point. If the purity of your old brand doesn't work for you, buy a different one instead.
  - yowlingcat 6y ago
    > an illegal impurity What makes an impurity illegal in the first place? What is the difference between a legal and illegal impurity?
    - chrisseaton 6y ago
      Normally there are regulations about what you can and can't put in a food product. For example chocolate often has to contain a certain percentage of cocoa solids. But again this isn't what this article is about. This article is about food products being smaller than he'd like and in some cases less pure than he'd like. Not illegal small or illegally impure. He should just pick another product if they don't meet his requirements. He thinks he's exposing some kind of conspiracy, when really it's market prices and tastes changing.
      - yowlingcat 6y ago
        > Normally there are regulations about what you can and can't put in a food product. For example chocolate often has to contain a certain percentage of cocoa solids. I hear you, but that's not exactly what I'm asking. I'm asking a more specific question: how does a thing, previously legal, comes to be illegal? What happens at a societal and legislative level for such a change to transpire?