What will They Label Next?

Many thought that when New York City started putting the calorie and fat content labels on all chain restaurants that the government was stepping over the boundary of consumer choice and capitalism. However, in my recent travels, I've noticed many restaurants across the US following suit and providing the nutritional content for their entrees. 
Now, Mayor Newsom, from San Francisco, is pushing new legislation that will force cell phone companies to label the amount of radiation that their cell phones produce. Sounds reasonable, and he feels that it will probably even catch on throughout the country. But how much information is too much and will people even care or understand what the labels mean?

Right now, the FCC requires that cell phone manufacturers ensure their phones are at or below a Specific Absorption Rate level of 1.6 watts per kilogram of body tissue to be legally sold in this country. Some are well below that level; and the FCC ensures that those levels are extremely safe for consumer usage. So, with that type of legislation in place to protect us, do we really need the extra labeling? After all, how many people still read labels on their food or the warning labels on our favorite consumer products? Generally we get books and books of information with our electronic devices, but, at least speaking for myself, we just toss those to the side to start playing with all the buttons.

The Environmental Working Group, who is supporting this legislation says that there is only limited research available on the health hazards of cell phone radiation and that more public information can only be positive. All good points, but if we don't know for sure what levels are safe, according to their research, and the public is already inundated with too much information, then maybe the new label isn't positive. 

Until we know more than the FCC already does about the level of safe radiation, then I cannot imagine that forcing companies to label their cell phones would do any good. If the experts cannot agree on safe levels of radiation, then consumers certainly won't be able to make an educated choice based on the numbers.


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