08-17-2011, 05:01 PM
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...4853612f09
(click the image on the right hand side of the article to enlarge. WARNING: they are pretty graphic)
Four of the five largest U.S. tobacco companies are fighting back against 9 new FDA-approved cigarette labels, graphically depicting body parts damaged by smoking and even one depicting a smoker's sewn-up corpse. The labels must be printed on the entire top half, front and back, of the packaging. The new warnings also must constitute 20 percent of any cigarette advertising. They also all include a hotline help number for smokers who wish to quit.
The complainants are saying the labels violate free speech rights, the images were manipulated to be emotionally charged (implying its misleading), and that it will cost them millions of dollars to print these and comply with federal standards.
"Never before in the United States have producers of a lawful product been required to use their own packaging and advertising to convey an emotionally-charged government message urging adult consumers to shun their products," the companies wrote in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.
Is the FDA going too far? Or is this a necessary step?
(click the image on the right hand side of the article to enlarge. WARNING: they are pretty graphic)
Four of the five largest U.S. tobacco companies are fighting back against 9 new FDA-approved cigarette labels, graphically depicting body parts damaged by smoking and even one depicting a smoker's sewn-up corpse. The labels must be printed on the entire top half, front and back, of the packaging. The new warnings also must constitute 20 percent of any cigarette advertising. They also all include a hotline help number for smokers who wish to quit.
The complainants are saying the labels violate free speech rights, the images were manipulated to be emotionally charged (implying its misleading), and that it will cost them millions of dollars to print these and comply with federal standards.
"Never before in the United States have producers of a lawful product been required to use their own packaging and advertising to convey an emotionally-charged government message urging adult consumers to shun their products," the companies wrote in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.
Is the FDA going too far? Or is this a necessary step?
PS. If you can, try your hand at giving some of the others a bit of feedback. If you already have, thanks, can you do some more?