In Washington DC, a group of 10 consumers have filed a lawsuit on behalf of all the citizens in the district who are lactose intolerant and don't know it. They are demanding that the defendants in the case, which include supermarkets like Safeway, put warning labels on milk cartons, stating that milk could cause health problems in people who are lactose intolerant.
This seems fairly obvious, but the plaintiffs insist that most people don't know that they are lactose intolerant - the onset is gradual and can occur any time in life - and continue to experience negative side effects from the ingestion of dairy.
Fortunately for dairy producers, sellers and even milk drinkers, their case brought an unfavorable ruling by the US District Court that heard it, though the group plans to appeal. Dairy producers seem to think that labels would hurt sales, but if people are not put off by experiencing negative side effects such as abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal disturbances, it doesn't seem all that likely that most consumers would alter their buying habits when it comes to milk.
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-09-2006 @ 12:28PM
T. Allen said...
I am lactose intolerant. I KNOW I am. I also have other medical conditions that are exacerbated by drinking milk. TOO BAD. I love milk. I drink milk, and will not stop unless it puts me in the hospital. Maybe not even then.
This alarmist attitude is getting out of hand. What next, warning labels on water? (it could have contaminants, you know! eek).
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 12:45PM
jmchez said...
If they don't how that they are lactose intolerant how would it help them to put a warning label saying that milk causes problems for those who are?
This is just the millionth example of people putting great efforts into doing something not because it would help or benefit anyone but because the sole act of stopping something or forcing someone to do something gives those who did the forcing or stopping a sense of power and achievement. It's all about the self.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 1:00PM
Jared said...
That's so unbelievably silly. I second jmchez's thoughts whole-heartedly.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 1:12PM
ben said...
yeah i agree, too. i mean, the labelling is just plain silly. i dont drink milk and i dont think its a particularly healthy drink for anyone (in the form that we in the US can generally find it in), but that does NOT mean that i think it should carry some silly label.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 1:34PM
Finished.Law.School said...
This is stupid. If someone is lactost intolerant and does not know it a label is not going to do shit for them. The attorneys representing these idiots should be disbarred for representing the clueless retards.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 1:38PM
cybele said...
Jiminy Crickets! That's an idiotic waste of time ... what's next, make sure they label that peanuts contain, um, PEANUTS!
I don't think it would necessarily hurt sales, as the dairy folks say, but it would just muck up the labels ... how will we know about missing children?
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 1:53PM
Sally Rube said...
"This is stupid. If someone is lactost intolerant and does not know it a label is not going to do shit for them. The attorneys representing these idiots should be disbarred for representing the clueless retards. "
I would like to know which blogger on slashfood gave a star to this comment (only bloggers can). Nicole, was it you? The poster's sentiment may be okay, but calling these people "idiots" and "retards," and saying "to do sh*t," is this what you want for comments here, is this what should be held up as productive with stars? I am quite surprised and dismayed a bit.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 2:05PM
Finished.Law.School said...
Sally Rube, I think it is safe to assume that you are one of the idiots/retards who wants this senseless label on milk.
And since you obviously do not understand how it works, stars are given to those who make comments and remain with the commenter over time assuming the commenter uses the same name, email address and url; that star is not for that particular comment.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 2:10PM
Sally Rube said...
Just to respond, I do not support this labeling proposal, that's your incorrect assumption. I even made it clear in my first comment that your sentinment was not what I had a problem with. And stars no stars, I find your use of those terms objectionable. I thought this was a web site a nice conservative mother could read with her kids. I guess not.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 2:13PM
Sally Rube said...
I will say though that it is good to know that with all of your endless commenting you have only gotten one star. I guess your abuse it tolerated but not promoted as I originally thought. Sorry for the mistake Nicole and other bloggers.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 2:25PM
gale carrier said...
I'm lactose intolerant but I don't agree with milk labeling.
Reply
8-09-2006 @ 5:50PM
Adriane said...
whats next...warning labels on Little Debbie snacks? Warning: May Increase Pant Size..hehe.
But in all seriousness, I think we're all in the same boat in the thinking that the new labels and the CASE for said labels is just a big waste of time, money and resources!
Reply
8-10-2006 @ 10:56PM
Kevin said...
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH The dairy industry won't put labels on milk WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH
Reply