Eric Luper's Random Musings

The printing on bottles and packaging is always a source of amusement for me. Did you know that it is a violation of federal regulations to not use Clorox Wipes in accordance with its labeling? That means you could conceivably be arrested for taking the wipe directly from the tub rather than feeding it up through the spiny plastic teeth hole.

Now, I could go on and on making fun of the instructions on the wrapper for chopsticks, but that is an easy target. No, today I'm going to pick on Listerine.

As I was tending to my dental hygeine today, I happened to read the label on the Listerine bottle. It read:

24 hour protection against plaque and gingivitis germs.

Then, in very small letter beneath that it read:

(Use every 12 hours.)

If you do not believe me, please click on the link above.

To me, this label is false advertising. Listerine does not provide 24 hour protection against plaque and gingivitis. It provides 12 hour protection. This would be the same as printing "Provides week-long pain relief" on the back of a bottle of Tylenol and then putting in small print that you still have to take it every 4 hours. It would be the same as me claiming that I can hold my breath for a year (provided I take a breath every few seconds).

Have any of you seen any bizarre labeling lately? Please share!

By the way, I highly recommend you avoid rubbing your eyes after using spearmint flavored dental tape. Ouch!