Labels warning about every conceivable misuse of a product are companies' way of trying to protect themselves against product liability suits. Most of the product liability cases filed today include charges that a manufacturer didn't warn the user of possible dangers from using the product. That represents a dramatic shift from just twenty years ago when the majority of such suits focused on product defects that caused injuries. Most people, except the very young or the mentally disadvantaged, would expect that hot coffee would be hot. But our courts and our judges seem to have retreated from the reasonable person standard in holding companies liable for product misuse.
Some warnings can also mislead people about real risks.
For instance, warnings on baby walkers that children can fall down stairs using them misses the real danger that open stairs are dangerous for small children and parents should have a gate or rope or door in front of the steps so that toddlers don't fall down stairs, whether they're in a baby walker or not. The baby walker warnings and other product warnings may lead people to believe that they're not responsible for supervising their children or for using products properly. Some people may think that these are the very people that need warning labels that it is important to protect those who are least able to protect themselves. But the people most likely to misuse a product probably won't read and follow the advice on the label. Reckless people won't bother they're too anxious to use the product.