Maybe I expect too much, but as a consumer, I want more than a “HELPFUL HINT” to notify me there might be stones in the food I buy. In this case, a package of lentils. Because a stone can easily break teeth, a strong “WARNING” should be given. Even better, get rid of small stones and other foreign objects in lentils.
Here’s the “HELPFUL HINT”:
“Beans are harvested in their natural state. Even with the most careful attention and best processing equipment available, we suggest you look over the contents closely to pick out any foreign substances, soil particles, etc.”
Not crazy about soil particles in food, but they’re much less likely to cause harm. A little worried what “etc.” could include.
Tort law on unexpected, harmful objects in food products was traditionally based on a “foreign” vs. “natural” distinction. For example, a piece of chicken bone in chicken salad might be considered natural and not a basis for liability. That is still the law in some jurisdictions, but the modern law is whether a consumer would “reasonably expect” the harm-causing object to be in the food product. Stones, anyone?
(Quick research I can’t vouch for says modern equipment and methods eliminate 99.9 percent of foreign objects in beans and lentils. After following the prominent hint on the package, I didn’t discover any in the package I purchased.)