Well, it depends. Are we talking about a candy bar from a Kroger? It would include the ingredients required to give you that dopamine/serotonin sensation, many of which you may or may not be able to pronounce or understand without having a chemistry degree. Maybe you're asking about some eggs from whole foods? If so, you'll be able to read about the farm the chickens came from, how they were raised, what food they ate, and if there was the inclusion of any chemicals in the process. What about clothing? Let's say you find this sweet shirt on sale from your favorite store. You've been waiting to purchase it for months, and now it's finally 50% off. What about that?
If you've never really paid much attention, you'll probably find two separate pieces of information contained on the tag or tags. One side will include the material, the country of origin, and who made it. The other side of the tag will include how to care for the piece of clothing, can it be washed or does it go to the dry cleaners, etc. Why bother with this information at all? There are two laws established by the Federal Trade Commission that require them to be present on the tags. One is called the Textile and Wool Act, and the other is The Care Labeling Rule. That's it, that's all you need to know about the apparel you sport around town because the government has deemed it so.
Shouldn't we stop for a minute and question this? Clothes are no longer a simple commodity item assembled together on Grandma's loom down the street and shipped over to the local general store. It's a complex network and money making machine that generates that perfectly fitting t-shirt or fashionably colored pair of tennis shoes you sport on the court. If you haven't read the article on this site about tennis shoes, stop what you're doing and scroll down. Read that, then pick up here. I'm still talking about the same problem, but I want to find a better solution.
This stuff is important. We as consumers need to know how the sausage is made, both figuratively and literally. It's abundantly clear that we can't rely on laws and regulations to have our best interest in mind. Our system is built on capitalism, supply and demand, profits and earnings. Ethics is often an afterthought or can often be bought for the right price. We as citizens have to remain watchful and vigilant with how we consume. People are paid large amounts of money to make products seem as appealing to us as possible. It's a game of disassociation. Pig is pork, cow is beef, poultry is chicken. It's uncomfortable to think about it otherwise, so industries have worked tirelessly to remove that discomfort and open your wallets as wide as possible. The same concept is occurring with apparel.
Shouldn't we know immediately that our favorite pair of underwear may have been assembled by a five year old forced to work in horrible conditions? Why is it not required to identify exactly how any piece of clothing arrives in your hands? How about an application on your phone that scans a bar code right on that new fancy shirt? Boom. Access to a database that fully informs you of all the steps required to produce and distribute anything and everything you purchase. Sure these companies may be doing things legally, but clearly the current regulations are morally questionable. It's up to us to remain informed and hold businesses accountable for their actions. I believe we need to overhaul the information provided to us at point of sale. I think this would greatly influence how we shop and ultimately how goods are manufactured and sold.
https://legalbeagle.com/6082830-laws-clothing-label-requirements.html