# Have you ever violated US federal law by using a product in a manner inconsistent with its labeling? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 24, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059 "2011-05-24T20:20:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/1 "2011-05-24T20:20:50Z")
With reference to ["It is a violation of Federal law" - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=609708) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/2 "2011-05-24T21:58:53Z")
A couple meds I had previously been on were prescribed for something other than what they were originally passed by the FDA for. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/3 "2011-05-24T22:36:19Z")
As established in that other thread, that particular verbiage is placed, by law, on pesticides, herbicides, and similar poisonous chemicals only. So e.g. misusing a prescription drug might violate some law or regulation, but not that particular magic phrase. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/4 "2011-05-26T05:46:48Z")
I’ve used a product in a way inconsistent with its labeling, but I do not believe I’ve ever violated a federal law. At least, not one that would stand up in court. It’s a really dumb phrase. Why not just say, “Disregard the written instructions at your own risk”? This sort of thing makes a mockery of federal law. In fact, I’ll ask that in the original thread. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/5 "2011-05-26T06:00:11Z")
I used to huff butane, which is probably not its intended use. Whippets, too. Joe ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/6 "2011-05-26T19:39:20Z")
Nice try, FBI. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/7 "2011-05-27T00:17:32Z")
> [@wheresgeorge04](#): > > I used to huff butane, which is probably not its intended use. Whippets, too. [You monster!](http://www.dog-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/blue%20whippet%20puppies.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/8 "2011-05-27T01:26:52Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > [You monster!](http://www.dog-guide.com/wp-content/uploads/blue%20whippet%20puppies.jpg) I knew that was coming… Joe ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/9 "2011-05-27T01:34:34Z")
I don’t know if this counts, but I had a former friends who was a make up artist. The only way to get her eyeshadow into her palette was to break the casing and put wax paper on a hair straightener. Let the straighten melt the rest of the casing off. It stunk. I don’t deal with her any more, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she gets cancer from breathing those fumes in. I always thought if her house burns down/she gets injured she has no one to blame but herself. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/10 "2011-05-27T01:42:56Z")
You know what works great for cleaning a bathtub? Toilet bowl cleaner. Pour some on, let it soak for a couple of hours, and wipe it away. But it specifically tells you on the label not to use it on bathtubs. I say, so what if it dissolves the skin off your feet? It’ll grow back. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-violated-us-federal-law-by-using-a-product-in-a-manner-inconsistent-with-its-labeling/583059/11 "2011-05-27T01:47:14Z")
I’ve used a butter knife as a screwdriver once but that was outside the jurisdiction of the feds 😃