The history of warning labels in the United States began in 1938 when the United States Congress passed a law mandating that food products have a list of ingredients on the label.[1]
In 1966, the Federal government mandated that cigarette packs have a warning on them from the surgeon general. In 1973, Congress decided that products containing “toxic substances” must have labels. In 1985, a testimony was made alongside demands for record companies to put labels on music that contained sexual or violent lyrics. On March 29, 1990, warning labels were put on music products that contained potentially offensive lyrics; this was done with the agreement of the recording companies. In 1989, alcohol was required to have the surgeon general’s warning.
Several federal agencies are involved in the business of warning labels, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. FBI warning labels have appeared in rented movies since 1975, discouraging consumers from engaging in video piracy.
There are three levels of labelling; caution, warning and danger:[2]