Labels

Warning: Copyright threats on DVDs and TV broadcasts may be misstating the law. A high-tech trade group made that charge Wednesday to the Federal Trade Commission, alleging deceptive trade practices for the scary copyright warnings before movies and during sports broadcasts. The Computer and Communications Industry Assn. said it was trying to protect the public's legal rights from overzealous media companies, which in turn said they were simply trying to protect their content.

The Treasury Department is considering a rule that would require companies to put alcoholic content, serving sizes and nutritional information on all alcoholic drink packaging. According to the proposed rule, labels on all alcoholic beverages would include a statement of the drink's percentage of alcohol by volume. The labels would also include a "serving facts" panel, which would quantify the calories, carbohydrates, fat and protein for a standard serving size.

Under pressure from Congress, government regulators Thursday proposed new "truth in labeling" rules for sunscreen to give consumers clearer, more complete information on protection against cancer-causing ultraviolet rays. Once finalized, the rules would require manufacturers to test products for protection against two types of ultraviolet rays instead of one, as is now standard.

Reliable household products get the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. Safe electronics earn Underwriters Laboratories' UL mark. But consumers and investors looking for environmentally responsible products and services have to trudge through a swamp of seals, claims and certifications -- only some of which designate independent, verified environmental accomplishments. There's "Green Seal," founded by independent nonprofit group Green Seal Inc.

Makers of sugar-free foods must tell consumers when their products aren't low-calorie or reduced in calories, U.S. regulators said. The Food and Drug Administration is "concerned about a number of products" advertised as sugar-free that don't bear the required disclaimer on calories, according to a letter to manufacturers posted on the agency's website. Consumers might erroneously assume that all products without sugar will help them lose weight, the FDA said.

Is the bottled water you drink any better than what comes out of the tap? Is it from the tap? Most companies that sell H2O hate the idea, but the California Legislature wants to make it easier for people to find out what minerals, chemicals or bacteria are in the water they buy and whether its provenance is a well, artesian aquifer, spring -- mountain or otherwise -- or municipal reservoir. "People pay a premium for bottled and vended water because they believe it is healthier," said state Sen.

Many years ago, a snack chip manufacturer developed a corn chip labeled "light." Dieters were delighted. "It's about time," they thought, "a guilt-free chip." But upon closer inspection of the label, hearts sank. The new chips had more calories than regular chips -- they just had a new "light" texture. To help avoid such baffling or misleading claims, the FDA in 1999 revised and strengthened its labeling guidelines, aiming to make packaging clearer and simpler.

Warning labels on anemia drugs made by Amgen Inc. and Johnson & Johnson have been strengthened to reflect concerns that they boost the risk of heart attacks, stroke and death, regulators said Thursday. Millions of cancer and kidney disease patients take the drugs, known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. EPO drugs include Amgen's biggest drug, Aranesp, and an older version, Epogen, and J&J's Procrit.

Target Corp. said Tuesday that it was working to add labels that warn consumers when meat was treated with carbon monoxide to make those steaks and chops look fresh as federal regulators faced criticism for allowing a practice that critics call unsafe. Hormel Foods Corp. and Cargill Inc. also announced they would be willing to add similar labeling if necessary.

HERE at Greenbuild, the world's largest conference on environmentally responsible design, former President Clinton packed a ballroom with a rapt audience of 8,000 that began lining up for seats two hours before he took to the stage. Environmental messiah Paul Hawken, author of "The Ecology of Commerce," delivered his own impassioned address on green design as moral obligation -- and promptly received a standing ovation that outlasted Clinton's.