Editing Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (section)

== Background of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act ==
{{Fan POV|section|date=November 2022}}
The introduction to Act states that "Informed consumers are essential to the fair and efficient functioning of a free market economy." Here, Congress makes it clear that they are invested in making sure that American shoppers are knowledgeable about the products that they are purchasing in American stores. Senator [[Philip Hart]] (D-MI) introduced the Act in the Senate by stating, "The consumer has a right to be able to find out what he is buying, how much he is buying, what it is costing on a per unit basis." Senator Hart earned the nickname "The Conscience of the Senate" from his peers for his tendency to stand up for the average person, defending their rights, and take on big business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Philip A. Hart: A Featured Biography|url=https://www.senate.gov/senators/FeaturedBios/Featured_Bio_Hart.htm|access-date=14 December 2021|website=United States Senate}}</ref> Senator Hart worked hard on this bill, he was a strong driving force behind the bill, and he likely knew more about the act than anyone.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Robertson|first=Nan|date=20 October 1966|title='Strong' Labels Bill Sent to White House: LABEL BILL SENT TO WHITE HOUSE|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117257258|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117257258}} }}</ref>

The issue of misleading labels and packages had been one ongoing problem as, "Individual consumers have complained for years about confusing labels, shoddy workmanship, dresses that fall apart at the seams, deceptive packaging, "cents off" promotions, high-interest rates."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hunter|first=Marjorie|date=9 October 1966|title=CONGRESS ACTS: Against Packages That Lie|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117355042|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117355042}} }}</ref> These frustrated consumers sent thousands of letters to Congress requesting solutions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hunter|first=Marjorie|date=25 April 1966|title=CONSUMERS RALLY IN CAPITAL TODAY: Delegates of 33 Clubs to Put Pressure on Congress|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117551267|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117551267}} }}</ref> One reason for why this popular discussion emerged at this time was Americans could choose among an unprecedented assortment of products when they went shopping. In the average supermarket in the mid-1960s, a consumer would find 8,000 items, which was more than five times the 1,500 items they found in that same market just 20 years previously.<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 March 1966|title=Text of the President's Message Requesting Wide Range of Consumer Safeguards|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117151984|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117151984}} }}</ref>

Before this Act was passed, measurements regarding quantity of goods were not required on packages, there was also no standards in place assuring that similar products had equivalent weights, and there were no regulations in place pledging that packages had a consistent amount of product every time. An investigation was done by the Senate committee that discovered that the manufacturers of potato chips sent them to market in a variation of 73 different weights under 3 pounds."<ref>{{Cite news|date=28 March 1966|title=What's in the Package?|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117238013|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117238013}} }}</ref> President Johnson voiced his opinion several times on the issue, discussing a common problem, "The housewife often needs a scale, a yardstick and a slide rule to make a rational choice. She has enough to do without performing mathematics in the stores."<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 March 1966|title=Text of the President's Message Requesting Wide Range of Consumer Safeguards|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117151984|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117151984}} }}</ref> It was hard to know just how much of an ingredient was needed for a recipe, for example. President Johnson also proclaims, "The Government must do its share to ensure the shopper against deception, to remedy confusion, and to eliminate questionable practices."<ref>{{Cite news|date=22 March 1966|title=Text of the President's Message Requesting Wide Range of Consumer Safeguards|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/117151984|access-date=14 December 2021|id={{ProQuest|117151984}} }}</ref> Johnson was a strong supporter of this act and he believed that it was the government's responsibility to do something to help the American consumer.