Every so often I actually read the entire packaging verbage of a grocery item.  On rare occasion they have really fun and entertaining commentary on them.  The kind of stuff that let's you know a person who enjoys their job, and a company that doesn't take itself too seriously, took the time to write and publish words their consumers could enjoy.  The labels on Paul Newman's salad dressing bottles are great examples.

Today I read the Oscar Mayer hot dog package.  Even though in very, very small print, the words, "CHOKING WARNING" in yellow letters on a red background were sort of designed to catch one's eye.  Then if I squinted just right, I could read the even smaller print just below that title - the third quote above.  Makes me wonder about the chances of our survival as a species.  Have you ever thought of hot dogs as being so dangerous that they require a warning label? 

I found it quite ironic. Maybe we should wrap a really big red ribbon around the earth that reads, "Danger! Your life on this planet could end in death."   Absolutely anything that one can put in one's mouth is a choking hazard.  Sometimes the simple act of swallowing even in the absence of food can be a choking hazard if your ever so human as me. 

Don't get me wrong.  Tragic and unexpected things happen every day - in spite of printed labels.  The labels don't make those happenings any less tragic and if they help prevent even one mishap, they are worth every drop of ink.  Though I still think it's ironic to put a choking warning on a food label.  Marbles - yes.  Hot dogs - ?

Pictured:  White checkered butterfly on Indian blanket flower.  The Indian blankets were simply AMAZING this spring.  Truly a beautiful and captivating blanket.

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