Opinion ID: 1866599
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did the trial court err in holding the labeling of cake cups and cones, to be a reasonable requirement?

Text: It should be noted that Appellant does not assign as error, the finding of the trial court that cup cakes or pastry cones are packages or containers within the meaning of Section 189.1(4) but accepts it as a proper finding. Such finding is in accord with Appellee's theory, as expressed in his answer. Thus, whether this finding is a proper construction to place upon Section 189.1(4), and particularly the words and other receptacles of a like nature is not before us and we do not determine the question. Accepting, at least so far as the instant case is concerned, the fact that a cake cup or pastry cone, when used as a container for the sale of food, is a package or container within the terms of Section 189.1(4), then it necessarily follows that under the provisions of Section 191.1, labels are necessary. Section 190.1(36), prohibits the sale of `Ice Milk products', except in the manufacturer's package or wrapper. It does not specify the type of package or wrapper that is to be used, leaving that to the discretion of the manufacturer. Thus, assuming for the moment that prohibiting the sale of an article of food, except in the manufacturer's package or wrapper is a valid exercise of the police power of the State, the fact that the type of package or wrapper, adopted by the manufacturer, makes it difficult to comply with the labeling statute, is the fault, not of the law, but of the manufacturer. The question thus boils down to whether or not, the requirement, that a product may be sold only in the manufacturer's package or wrapper, is a valid exercise of the police power of the State. To this question our answer must be yes. All parties concede the extensive power of the State in the matter of regulating the handling and sale of food. They also agree that the courts do not determine the wisdom, advisability or justice of the various statutes adopted by the legislature, and that the remedy for unwise or oppressive legislation rests with the legislature. See Dickinson v. Porter, 240 Iowa 393, 35 N.W.2d 66, and cited cases. The record shows that approximately fifty percent of Appellant's sales are made in the cup or cone type of container. While it appears possible to place a label, in the nature of a paper band, about the cake or cone, it is clearly burdensome and entails additional time and expense. The record does not show the additional time required or expense. It further appears that where the band type of label is used, the consuming public has paid little, if any, attention thereto. Appellant contends that by the posting of the required notices in his place of business, the public is fully informed as to the nature of the product they are purchasing and the requirement that a label be placed upon the cone is a useless and unreasonable one. While these arguments are very persuasive upon the question of the wisdom of such legislation, they lack force as a legal argument. The single question is whether or not legislation prohibiting the sale of food except in package or wrapped form is unreasonable and an illegal use of the police power of the State. This question has been before this Court many times and such legislation has been consistently upheld. Such also appears to be the general rule. State v. Snow, 81 Iowa 642, 47 N.W. 777, 11 L.R.A. 355; State v. Hutchinson Ice Cream Co., 168 Iowa 1, 147 N.W. 195, L.R. A.1917B, 198; Hutchinson Ice Cream Co. v. State of Iowa, 242 U.S. 153, 37 S.Ct. 28, 61 L.Ed. 217; State of Iowa v. Armour Packing Co., 124 Iowa 323, 100 N.W. 59; 22 Am.Jur. Foods, § 23; 36 C.J.S., Food, § 10. Appellant cites State ex rel. Mitchell v. Thompson's School of Beauty Culture, 226 Iowa 556, 285 N.W. 133; State v. Neslund, 141 Iowa 461, 120 N.W. 107; and State of Minnesota v. Myers, (a Hennepin County District Court decision). An examination of these cases shows that they are not in point, especially in view of the accepted holding that a cup or cone is a package within the meaning of Section 189.1(4).