History of warning labels in the US
Encyclopedia
The History of warning labels in the United States began in 1938 when the United States Congress
passed a law mandating that food products have a list of ingredients on the label.
In 1966 the Federal government mandated that cigarette packs have a warning on them from the surgeon general. See Tobacco packaging warning messages. Congress voted in 1973 that products containing “toxic substances” must have labels. In 1985 there was a testimony that wanted record companies to put labels on music that contained sexual or violent lyrics. On March 29, 1990 warning labels
were put on music products that contained potentially offensive lyrics; this was done with the agreement of the recording companies. In 1989, alcohol
was required to have their surgeon general’s warning.
Several federal agencies are involved in the business of warning-labels, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission
, the Food and Drug Administration
, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
. FBI warning labels have been appeared since 1975 in rented movies warning people about video piracy.
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed a law mandating that food products have a list of ingredients on the label.
In 1966 the Federal government mandated that cigarette packs have a warning on them from the surgeon general. See Tobacco packaging warning messages. Congress voted in 1973 that products containing “toxic substances” must have labels. In 1985 there was a testimony that wanted record companies to put labels on music that contained sexual or violent lyrics. On March 29, 1990 warning labels
Warning Labels
"Warning Labels" is the title of a song written by Kim Williams and Oscar Turman, and recorded by American country music artist Doug Stone. It was released in June 1992 as the lead single from the album From the Heart. The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.-Chart...
were put on music products that contained potentially offensive lyrics; this was done with the agreement of the recording companies. In 1989, alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
was required to have their surgeon general’s warning.
Several federal agencies are involved in the business of warning-labels, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission
Consumer Product Safety Commission
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." The CPSC is an independent agency that does...
, the Food and Drug Administration
Food and Drug Administration
The Food and Drug Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments...
, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
. FBI warning labels have been appeared since 1975 in rented movies warning people about video piracy.
Types of warning labels
There are three levels of warning, CAUTION, WARNING and DANGER:- Caution indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
- Warning indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
- Danger indicates an imminently hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury. This word is limited to the use in the most extreme situations.
Popularity of warning labels
- Warning labels became much more popular after 1992 when Stella Liebeck at the age of 81 won $3 million from McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
after a cup of coffee she purchased was spilled and caused third-degree burns on her leg.