FDA Regulation of Food Labeling

Abstract

As one strolls down a grocery aisle, shift through the maze of cosmetic counters, or sits in front of the television, one is transported into various fantasies, identities, and scenarios. The power of advertisements and package designs to influence the consumers has grown tremendously over the years. Food and cosmetic manufacturers, cognizant of this power, have invested an enormous amount of their resources into the both advertising and packaging – so much so that a fissure has formed between the “image†and the “actuality†of the product. Manufacturers prey on the consumers becoming more impulsive and vulnerable, and the amplification of the product’s “image†has helped this cause. No agency or body of law is curtailing this growth and use of the power except the Food and Drug Administration. Through its stringent labeling regulations throughout this century, the FDA has limited how far the manufacturers can go with their package designs. By imposing its numerous requirements, the FDA has provided the consumers with an “awareness,†and room to dilute the appeal of the “image.†In this sense, the FDA is going far beyond the realm of its traditional role: a “policeman†who “serves the public interest†by “ensur[ing] that food is safe, pure, and wholesome…[and that] cosmetics are safe….†The FDA, like, the postmodern artist Barbara Kruger, is serving a significant cultural and political role. Please note that to keep this essay at a manageable length, I will discuss only foods and cosmetics to illustrate my theses.