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Top 5 Wacky Warning Labels Identified

Each year, a group called the Center for America, which is critical of frivolous¹ lawsits, selects the year’s top five “Wacky Warning Labels.”

For instance, it once found a stern advisory² on a package of rat poison: “Warning: Has Been Found to Cause Cancer in Laboratory Mice.”

This year’s dubious³ “winners” are out. They include this warning on an electric razor: “Never Use While Sleeping.”

And this one on an office desk accessory that looks like the steering⁴ wheel of a car: “Never use this product while driving.”

But the grand prize of $1,000 went to the person who found the following warning attached to a little decorative⁵ globe: “These globes should not be referred to for navigation.”

Warning labels on products can be useful when they alert you to a danger that’s not obvious.

But if you read some of these labels on toys, household appliances, and gadgets⁶ sold in the United States, you’d have to conclude that the manufacturers think we’re not very bright.

They apparently⁷ issue these warnings because they’re worried that people will do stupid things with their products, hurt themselves, and blame the company.

The messages say such things as: “Don’t take this toaster into the bathtub with you.” Or . . . “Don’t operate this airplane unless you’ve had flying lessons.”

Over the years, we’ve seen warnings such as one on a child’s scooter: “This product moves when used.” As if we didn’t know that.

And this one, on a kitchen blender that whips, chops, and dices⁸: “Never remove food from the blades while the product is operating.” Ya think?

Then there was this label on a curling iron. It read, “For External Use Only.” And this one, on a box of hammers. Hammers! “May be harmful if swallowed.” No kidding!