When I purchase a food item at the supermarket, I can be confident that the label will state how much riboflavin is in it. The United States government requires this, and for a good reason, which is: I have no idea. I don't even know what riboflavin is. I do know I eat a lot of it. For example, I often start the day with a hearty Kellogg's strawberry Pop-Tart, which has, according to the label, a riboflavin rating of 10 percent. I assume this means that 10 percent of the Pop-Tart is riboflavin. Maybe it's the red stuff in the middle. Anyway, I'm hoping riboflavin is a good thing; if it turns out that it's a bad thing, like 'riboflavin' is the Latin word for 'cockroach pus,' then I am definitely in trouble.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author mocks his own ignorance about nutrition despite relying on government labels for food safety.
- In plain terms
- He trusts food labels but doesn't understand what the nutrients listed actually are.
- What can you take from it?
- Labels inform but do not educate consumers about nutritional content.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What do you actually know about the food you buy?
- How much trust do you place in labels?
Another view
The joke downplays the importance of understanding what you eat.
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