Ever since some guy back there 30 years ago managed to ruin our way of packaging foods on the shelves, we have had to over-wrap everything, sealing seals over seals, devising plastic childproof caps impossible to remove on medicines, encasing foods and other products in plastic (that one can hardly even cut with a knife) on cookies, eggs, batteries, vitamin bottles, make-up, individual pills, and much more. 

If you remember ... no, most of you are not that old ... but I remember some idiot injected poison into Tylenol capsules in bottles, I think. All one had to do in those days, was unscrew the lid, pull out the cotton, and stick a needle in a capsule. Whatever he did, he made one person very ill, and from that time on, the industry changed everything about packaging. 

They were afraid of being liable for injuries, of course, and there were fears. What if some other idiot injected foreign material into baby food packages? 

Then, on came the onslaught. The new safety measures. The pollution of more non-degradable plastic junk. The plastic companies must have been clicking their heels and dancing. The lid manufacturers for medicines, the makers of those big vacuum packing machines (they too were giddy). From now on, it would be man against package, package against man/woman. 

It’s a challenge ... a face-off ... a dare ... an intellectual test. Can you get into the food in how many seconds? 

Cereal is now packaged in such thick strong wrapping that one cannot open it without a power saw or at least an electric carving knife. Opening a plastic container of tomatoes lately caused me to squash one of the tomatoes, and by the time I got them open, I didn’t care anymore. 

Just lately, I tried to open two different prescription containers. It said push and turn. I pushed with my left thumb and turned with my right hand. Nope. Didn’t get it. I sat down. I grabbed it again. I twisted. I pushed. I was afraid that if it did open as I was pushing and squeezing, it might just suddenly come loose and the meds might explode out onto the kitchen floor. Finally, I won. Thankfully, I could now turn the lid over and screw it on again.  

I think childproof is a great idea. Don’t get me wrong. But the label should say, “Child and Adult-Proof.”  

A few days ago, a container of washing detergent and I had a dreadful set-to. The lid pictured a diagram showing which directing to turn the lid and push at the same time. By the time I had pushed and twisted, I got an idea and placed the container on the floor, put my foot on the lid while I turned with my hand on the lid while walking around the lid with my grip firmly on the twist.  

It didn’t work. 

Aha. I grabbed kitchen shears and “we” got to it. It was not bloody, but pretty violent, and I pried the lid off once I spied the two flaps on each side. Keep in mind that all this protection and extra packaging is not always for our protection. Oh no, It’s also for the manufacturers’ protection. They don’t want to be sued. 

We are absolutely choking our landfills and our ocean life. The creation of this indestructible, plastic “safety” product should be terminated. The water bottles are absolutely the worst. 

France recently passed a law effective as of January 2022 against fruits and vegetables packaged in plastic. All plastic packaging will be banned by the end of June of 2023 in France. France has already phased out single-use plastic cutlery, takeout cup lids, confetti, drink stirrers, plastic straws, and more return to natural packaging is coming. 

Shoppers will have to take their own reusable bags to fill and weigh. 

I’m ready for this change. Are you? It’s worth the effort.  

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com