Pasta makers near Palermo, Sicily, 1865. Wikimedia
Q1. According to a Dec 2 article in Wired magazine, the price of a carton of eggs on Target’s website differed by the buyer's location: $1.99 if near Rochester, NY and $2.29 if near Manhattan.
A recently enacted NYS law requires businesses that algorithmically set prices using customers’ personal data (such as location) to disclose that it is doing so, but there is no requirement they disclose which personal data was used. Thus, Target’s site shows a notice to NYS egg buyers "This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data."
Should it be legal for companies to charge different prices based on the buyer's location?
A recently enacted NYS law requires businesses that algorithmically set prices using customers’ personal data (such as location) to disclose that it is doing so, but there is no requirement they disclose which personal data was used. Thus, Target’s site shows a notice to NYS egg buyers "This price was set by an algorithm using your personal data."
Should it be legal for companies to charge different prices based on the buyer's location?
(Image: The Dayton Company created Target in 1962. Here the original Dayton's store in Minneapolis, MN, c 1915)
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Yes, with no disclosure required
19%
25%
14%
33%
17%
6%
21%
25%
18%
12%
19%
Yes, with disclosure "personal data used"
6%
8%
4%
4%
8%
7%
9%
8%
3%
5%
6%
Yes, with disclosure "location data used"
21%
25%
17%
19%
28%
22%
36%
15%
21%
18%
21%
No
51%
40%
62%
41%
43%
64%
34%
51%
52%
61%
51%
Not sure
2%
2%
2%
2%
4%
1%
0%
1%
3%
3%
2%
Don't care
1%
0%
1%
1%
1%
0%
0%
0%
2%
0%
1%
Q2. Last week, the city of San Francisco sued ten major food manufacturers — including Kraft Heinz, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Kellogg — accusing them of knowingly fueling a public health crisis with ultra-processed foods (UPFs). The lawsuit alleges the companies designed and marketed products to addict consumers, in violation of California laws on public nuisance and deceptive marketing.
A spokesperson for the ten manufacturers said “Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed is misleading. Allegations of public nuisance against food manufacturers that fully comply with FDA standards are an abuse of the legal system.”
San Francisco’s lawsuit cites studies linking UPFs to diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease, and colorectal cancer. In April, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Trump administration had identified UPFs as a driver of chronic illness in children.
Your view? (check all that apply)
A spokesperson for the ten manufacturers said “Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed is misleading. Allegations of public nuisance against food manufacturers that fully comply with FDA standards are an abuse of the legal system.”
San Francisco’s lawsuit cites studies linking UPFs to diabetes, fatty liver disease, heart disease, kidney disease, and colorectal cancer. In April, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the Trump administration had identified UPFs as a driver of chronic illness in children.
Your view? (check all that apply)
(Image: McDonald’s has been sued countless times for false marketing, rarely successfully, including for ads alleged to show patties 20% larger than actual in 2022. First McDonald’s, San Bernardino, California, 1940. )
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Food companies know UPFs harmful
84%
82%
86%
79%
85%
88%
95%
82%
82%
82%
84%
Do not
4%
8%
2%
6%
6%
3%
2%
5%
4%
5%
4%
Food companies market deceptively
79%
78%
80%
76%
77%
82%
93%
76%
75%
79%
79%
Do not
10%
14%
7%
12%
14%
7%
3%
15%
9%
10%
10%
Pleased SF brought the suit
61%
54%
67%
44%
57%
78%
73%
60%
57%
60%
61%
Am not
23%
28%
18%
38%
23%
8%
11%
26%
26%
22%
23%
SF will win suit
20%
18%
22%
14%
17%
26%
21%
16%
21%
23%
20%
Will not
55%
61%
52%
59%
54%
52%
60%
62%
53%
48%
55%
US better off if UPFs taken off market
70%
69%
71%
69%
71%
71%
74%
71%
71%
65%
70%
Is not
12%
15%
9%
14%
11%
10%
21%
13%
7%
11%
12%
Not sure
12%
8%
16%
8%
17%
15%
7%
13%
13%
14%
12%
Don't care
2%
2%
1%
2%
4%
1%
2%
1%
2%
1%
2%
Q3. Last week, the Trump administration accused Italian pasta makers of "dumping" (selling cheaper abroad than at home), and plans to increase the tariffs on imported Italian pasta from 15% to 107%. Brands impact include La Molisana, Rummo, and possibly Barilla.
Last month, President Trump announced plans to lower tariffs on imported beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas in what the White House called an effort to improve grocery affordability. Tariffs on these products currently range from 17% to 50%, and will go to near 0%.
Generally speaking, which reflect your views?
Last month, President Trump announced plans to lower tariffs on imported beef, tomatoes, coffee, and bananas in what the White House called an effort to improve grocery affordability. Tariffs on these products currently range from 17% to 50%, and will go to near 0%.
Generally speaking, which reflect your views?
(Image: A worker for Atlantic Macaroni Company hangs pasta to dry in Long Island City, New York. 1943. )
overall
custom
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+
Don't care
0%
1%
0%
1%
0%
0%
0%
0%
1%
1%
0%
Poll Comments (46)
Entities in this poll: (rate or comment)
