Food label issues and eyesight

[SallyBear]

Possibly quite a funny thing to post on here but I have trouble reading the small print on food labels which can make for a number of issues when trying to stick to regimented diets! Does anyone have any knowledge on whether or not shops, especially supermarkets, are required to provide a visual solution for product labelling? This may seem pedantic just to help out people who are dieting but I've thought about it and there are also a lot of people with very serious food allergies who also suffer from poor vision and, I would imagine, have serious problems conducting their shopping.

Does anyone have any thoughts about food labelling (particularly small print and what can be done about it). If so, i think this would be the place to start the discussion!

[Lulubell]

sally,

i know that nutrition facts and drug facts on product labeling are required to be a certain font size, as prescribed by FDA law, codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, section 21. when it was a proposed rule, rather than a final rule, and FDA was collecting feedback from industry, there was such pushback and whining about it. industry wanted it to be smaller!! as it is now, the smallest font allowed by law in the facts boxes is 6-point block.

there is no requirement for retail outlets to provide the public with a way to read the labels - the onus is on you. perhaps a pair of drug store magnifiers would work?

renee

[susan423]

I carry a magnifying glass in my purse and also keep one in the kitchen. As I got older I learned that if I can't change them, change myself and the way I react to it.

[Elizellen]

I too carry a small lens with me for label reading! I do get funny looks from other shoppers but the other day someone asked me to read her the small print on a food she was debating buying!

[sallyseachange]

Heavens! I thought I was the only one who went shopping with a magnifying glass. Good to know I have company... though sadly, my magnifying glass recently got transformed into a pair of specs permanently hanging round my neck.