Why Do We Need Labels Saying “Do Not Eat the Potting Mix”?

The other day, I bought a small potted plant — nothing special, just something green to sit by the window and convince me that I have a connection with nature. When I got home and unwrapped it, I noticed a label on the side. In bold, serious text, it read: “Do not eat the potting mix.”

I stopped and stared at it. Not touch it? That makes sense. Not breathe in the dust? Fair enough. But not eat it?

Who is out there spooning potting mix into a bowl like breakfast cereal? Is this really where we are as a species? Have we reached a point where even bags of dirt need warning labels?

It made me think. Are we genuinely becoming less sensible, or are companies simply overcompensating to avoid lawsuits? Maybe someone, somewhere, actually ate potting mix and called customer service to complain it did not taste like chocolate mousse.

We live in a world where product labels now include phrases like “Do not iron clothes while wearing them” or “Contains peanuts” — printed clearly on a bag of peanuts. And now, potting mix joins the list of things that apparently need to remind us not to eat them.

It is both hilarious and a little sad. At some point, common sense quietly stepped out of the room and never returned. Now, every label feels like a legal defense rather than a genuine safety reminder.

To be clear, I had no intention of eating my plant’s dirt. But seeing that label made me pause — not to think about the plant, but about us. How did we get here? When did it become necessary to protect the public from accidentally mistaking soil for food?

So, next time you buy something and see a warning that feels completely unnecessary, take a moment to smile. It might just reflect the times we live in — or the growing need to protect everyone, even from themselves.

And if you need me, I will be right here, proudly not eating my potting mix.