Twix a Twix Bar
Br Sandra Miller-Long

Going about my business yesterday I happened upon a Twix(tm) bar from the local grocery store. (I know it's not on my diet, but that is not the point of this article.). Innocently perusing the label, I noticed an interesting three word fragment:

"May Contain Peanuts"

That's right. The Mars(tm) candy corp feels it necessary to notify us that Twix candy bars MAY contain peanuts. Now, I'm not about to start a war here about peanut warnings on food stuffs. Nor do I want to raise the rancor of all the peanut allergist sympathizers out there. I think it is perfectly reasonable to label a food item clearly as to any ingredients that may be harmful to people with certain conditions. But what bothers me is the use of the word "may".

May? May?!

I mean. Don't they know?

They can tell me to the milligram how much sodium it contains (30), but they're not quite sure whether a peanut or two might have sneaked its way in. To me that belies a certain lack of control on the part of the Mars company over the contents of their product. Hey, if people are accidentally dropping peanuts in the batter, just how careful are they being?

What this really makes me wonder though is what other item(s) might work its way into any Twix bar but not required by law to be on the label. (at least I assume this is the case.) Nose hair? Or perhaps some commonly ejected bodily fluid??! Do I have to worry now if this product 'May Contain Mouse Droppings'?

Considering the possibilities, it seems like yet another fine reason to stick to my diet.

Bon appetit, now.