Reading product details can help consumers make informed decisions about the products they purchase. The type of information available and how it is presented can vary depending on the product. Here are some examples of how to read product details for different types of products:
- Food and Beverage Labels: When reading food and beverage labels, look for the following information:
- Product Date: This information can help you determine how fresh the product is.
- Ingredient List: This lists each ingredient in the product by its common or usual name, and in descending order by weight. The ingredient that weighs the most is listed first, and the ingredient that weighs the least is listed last.
- Nutrition Facts: This information provides details about the nutritional content of the product, including serving size, calories, and the amounts of various nutrients.
Its important to note that sometimes food and beverage packaging includes terms that may try to convince the consumer the food is healthy. To help avoid confusion, the FDA sets specific rules for what food manufacturers can call “light,” “low,” “reduced,” “free,” and other terms. This type of labeling may have little to do with how nutritious the food is.
- Cosmetics: When reading cosmetic labels, look for the following information:
- Ingredient Hazard Score: This score reflects known and suspected hazards linked to the ingredients. Hazards linked to ingredients include organ system toxicity, biochemical or cellular level changes, persistence and bioaccumulation, ecotoxicity, irritation, occupational hazards, enhanced skin absorption, and contamination concerns.
- Product Form: This describes the form of the product, such as lotion, cream, or powder.
- Inactive Ingredients: This lists all inactive ingredients, such as fillers, artificial colors, or flavorings.
Its important to note that some ingredients may be more hazardous than others, so its important to research the ingredients in a product before purchasing it.
- Product Descriptions: When reading product descriptions, look for the following information:
- Ideal Buyer: The description should focus on the ideal buyer for the product.
- Benefits: The description should entice the reader with the benefits of the product.
- Superlatives: The use of superlatives should be justified.
- Imagination: The description should appeal to the readers imagination.
- Mini-Stories: The description should cut through rational barriers with mini-stories.
- Sensory Words: The description should seduce with sensory words.
- Social Proof: The description should tempt with social proof.
Its important to note that product descriptions should be fun and engaging, and should answer questions about the product in a way that persuades the reader to make a purchase.
- Package Inserts: When reading package inserts, look for the following information:
- Indications and Usage: This section describes the drugs color and form, and lists the strength or amount of medication in that form.
- Contraindications: This section lists any contraindications for the drug.
- Chemical Makeup: This section gives the chemical name of the drug and a diagram of its chemical makeup.
- Inactive Ingredients: This lists all inactive ingredients, such as fillers, artificial colors, or flavorings.
- Clinical Pharmacology: This section provides scientific information about the drug.
- How Supplied/Storage and Handling: This section lists key information for health care providers to use in talking to patients about how to use the dru...
