When I lived in Canada, we used to do some of our shopping at a large Costco
in Mississauga, Ont, where most products seemed to be packaged in larger
sizes suitable for, and directed towards, the non-retail hospitality and
instutional industries (hotels, restaurants, hospitals, etc). What
surprised me was that all this packaging was in hard metric sizes - 2 kg
tins of coffee, 1 kg packs of bacon (Canadian of course!), 4 L jugs of milk
(although that is also a Canadian retail size sold in normal supermarkets
and convenience stores), 10 kg bags of potatoes, etc, etc.
It strikes me it would not be beyond the realms of possibility for Costco to
simply switch their US packaging operations to the same as their Canadian
ones? (I know, I am on dangerous ground here, but just pointing out some
logical - commercially sensible - moves to help metrication in the US).
----- Original Message -----
From: "John M. Steele" <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 10:57 PM
Subject: [USMA:43612] Re: USC units spread to the UK - and no-one notices!
I made a point of checking my supermarket milk (in the frig) and the milk
at Costco while I shopped today. Here in Michigan both are labeled 1 GAL
/ 3.78 L and have a nutrition label exactly like any other food regulated
under FPLA and the nutrition label requirements. However, I suppose it
could be under UPLR or even similar State requirements. If State
requirements, then there is a "50 States = 50 Ways" problem.
On the Costco milk, the net contents is printed on the label. On the
supermarket milk it is stamped into the plastic container and a little
hard to read unless you turn the bottle correctly.
I still believe they could fill to 4 L if they wanted too.
--- On Mon, 3/9/09, STANLEY DOORE <stan.do...@verizon.net> wrote:
From: STANLEY DOORE <stan.do...@verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [USMA:43487] Re: USC units spread to the UK - and no-one
notices!
To: jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net, "U.S. Metric Association"
<usma@colostate.edu>
Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 1:37 AM
I can't cite a specific law about dual labeling milk and
other dairy products, however they are not dual labeled now.
Milk comes under special state laws for farm products.
Stan Doore
----- Original Message ----- From: "John M.
Steele" <jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net>
To: "U.S. Metric Association"
<usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Sunday, March 08, 2009 9:13 AM
Subject: [USMA:43487] Re: USC units spread to the UK - and
no-one notices!
>
>
>
> Are you sure about that? Can you cite a law?
>
> I can't see an exception for milk in the FPLA, and
sectio 1461 seems to be pretty clear that it supercedes
state law, requiring less or different information..
>
> I believe it must be dual labelled and could be sold
in either a round Customary or metric quantity.
Specifically, I believe a 4 L fill would be legal, but it
would also have to be properly labeled in Customary.
>
> --- On Sun, 3/8/09, STANLEY DOORE
<stan.do...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> From: STANLEY DOORE <stan.do...@verizon.net>
>> Subject: [USMA:43486] Re: USC units spread to the
UK - and no-one notices!
>> To: "U.S. Metric Association"
<usma@colostate.edu>
>> Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009, 8:58 AM
>> milk which must be
>> sold by the gallon
>> due to government laws and regulations.
>>
>> Stan Doore
>
