# Why do they print "stories" on food packaging? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2024, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064 "2024-02-25T16:24:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/41 "2024-02-26T01:19:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I think most people understand that free-roaming chickens eat bugs and such. I think most people have no understanding at all of the various premium labeling-descriptors, based on how many times I’ve heard people say “I buy \ because I want \”, where \ and \ are two completely different and often contradictory things. Organic is not the same as sustainable is not the same as healthy is not the same as cruelty-free is not the same thing as hormone-free, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/42 "2024-02-26T02:41:26Z")
Some people also have a malfunctioning or non-existent sarcasm detector. Enough said. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/43 "2024-02-26T06:34:51Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I think most people understand that free-roaming chickens eat bugs and such. Lots of people are absolutely shocked or simply disbelieve the idea that a hen would eat a bug, let alone a mouse or snake. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/44 "2024-02-26T14:02:57Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > But not enough to go out and buy them yourself when the food procurement officer brought home Snyder’s. Did you ask if the FPO happened to read the label in the store? I am the “food is fuel/I’d happily eat people kibble” guy. If food appears in the house, I’ll eat it. Re: Utz - I prefer them DESPITE [ the creepy deformed girl in their logo!](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utz_Brands) If I were swayed by packaging, that would DEFINITELY sway me AGAINST inviting that horror into my home! And I guarantee the FPO does not spend extra time in the store for her reading enjoyment! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/45 "2024-02-26T17:42:51Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I’m sure I’m not the only former child who read the backs of cereal boxes over breakfast. Nope! I read everything I could get my hands on when I was a kid. I still remember enjoying the bottoms of the Bicentennial Kleenex boxes, which I would read in the bathroom while doing my business. The only one I remember now is Tom Paine (“These are the times that try men’s souls…”) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/46 "2024-02-26T18:08:31Z")
Are most Americans even aware Lucerne is a town in Switzerland? The only reason I know of its existence is because I’ve been there while driving to Germany. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have ever learned about it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/47 "2024-02-26T22:46:57Z")
Don’t forget the Budweiser label > **[THIS IS THE FAMOUS BUDWEISER BEER. WE KNOW OF NO BRAND PRODUCED BY ANY OTHER...](https://trademarks.justia.com/872/68/this-is-the-famous-budweiser-beer-we-know-of-no-brand-produced-by-any-other-brewer-which-costs-so-much-to-brew-and-age-our-87268995.html)** > > Beer ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/48 "2024-02-26T23:20:28Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Are most Americans even aware Lucerne is a town in Switzerland? I just cooked up some asparagus. A tag said something like, “Alpine Fresh. Product of Mexico.” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2024, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/49 "2024-02-26T23:23:50Z")
Back in college a friend of mine memorized that and then at parties, after people were drunk enough, he would claim to have amazing eye sight and eventually have someone challenge him to read the small writing from a few feet away. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/50 "2024-02-27T00:15:55Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I just cooked up some asparagus. A tag said something like, “Alpine Fresh. Product of Mexico.” Something can be alpine and from Mexico: > **[Definition of ALPINE](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alpine)** > > a plant native to alpine or boreal regions that is often grown for ornament; a person possessing Alpine physical characteristics… See the full definition “Alpine” just means “from a tall mountain”, and AFAIK, Mexico has mountains taller than the Alps. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/51 "2024-02-27T01:40:56Z")
Thanks for the correction. And yes, Mexico has several quite tall mountains. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/52 "2024-02-27T14:48:29Z")
You’re both right? I agree with Dinsdale that the marketing slogan “Alpine Fresh” on Mexican produce is probably meant to conjure up in the US consumer visions of lush green Swiss mountain pastures, rather than merely indicating “mountain-region origin”. But yes, Alessan is right that “alpine” as an adjective doesn’t mean only the European Alps. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/53 "2024-02-27T17:34:46Z")
To my mind, this is like serving a combination of cucumbers, eggplant and tomatoes to a kid as a “fruit salad” ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/54 "2024-02-27T18:19:31Z")
Is alpine skiing restricted to certain mountain ranges? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/55 "2024-02-27T18:41:45Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > > [@Jackmannii](#): > > > > I think most people understand that free-roaming chickens eat bugs and such. > > Lots of people are absolutely shocked or simply disbelieve the idea that a hen would eat a bug, let alone a mouse or snake. Hmm, i read the labels in hopes that it will suggest the hen was able to eat bugs. Hens that eat bugs taste better than ones that only eat manufactured feed. They also tend to be tougher, because they had more reason to exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064/56 "2024-02-27T22:47:26Z")
I don’t know about the flavor of the chickens themselves, but hens with a good lifestyle (bug-eating, low-stress, etc.) lay much tastier eggs. Fortunately, I don’t have to check the labels for that, because my mom keeps chickens, and provides all the eggs I need. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-print-stories-on-food-packaging/998064.md?page=2)