Doesn't small print on some groceries drive you crazy?

Old Salt

Old Salt

Senior Member
Location
New Brunswick, Canada!
I have some Knorr supplements (Bacon Carbonara) sitting in my cupboard, waiting to be used and can't make out the instructions! They are located in the lower corner of the package and are impossibly small. Even my reading glasses don't help. I will have to wait for my daughter to translate for me, and last time I asked her SHE had a hard time. This is not the only time this has happened! There are many other manufacturers who will display ingredients big enough so that everyone can read them, yet cooking instructions are terribly hard to make out for seniors! Am I the only one having problems?
 

Yes! There's many packaged items that have impossibly small copy showing instructions & ingredients and it's maddening when you're trying to make a meal. Large magnifying glass with a light on it helps for most items like this. I got one at Dollarama for a couple of bucks.
 
CinnamonSugar said:
Or, take a pic of the instructions on your phone, then zoom in on it after the photo is taken. Large as you want.
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I just had a brainstorm about that! Taking a photo should work. It would be even better if the manufacturers took our difficulties into consideration and printed their cooking (or other) instructions a bit larger!
 
Old Salt said:
I have some Knorr supplements (Bacon Carbonara) sitting in my cupboard, waiting to be used and can't make out the instructions! They are located in the lower corner of the package and are impossibly small. Even my reading glasses don't help. I will have to wait for my daughter to translate for me, and last time I asked her SHE had a hard time. This is not the only time this has happened! There are many other manufacturers who will display ingredients big enough so that everyone can read them, yet cooking instructions are terribly hard to make out for seniors! Am I the only one having problems?
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Sometimes it helps to look at it by a window with sunlight, or using a flashlight. They do still sell magnifiers.

You can also use Google Image Search, put the item in their search bar and many images will appear, if you need to read ingredients or instructions. Of course, expiration dates have to be read in the moment.

Gook luck, my sight is getting worse over time, and things like this frustrate me. Luckily, my husband's sight is still pretty good and he's always happy to help.
 
CallMeKate said:
Small print doesn't really bother me... but some writing, no matter the size, is very hard for me to read because of the color choices. Certain font colors on another color of background can be very hard to read!
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That is very true for me as well! It's made even more difficult for me because I am color deficient (not color blind). I easily recognize basic colors but have problems distinguishing between various shades of a color!
 
Last week I put this in my purse. It’s not the greatest quality magnification. Considering it was used by my grandmother until she died in the 60s, it still does the job. This was all she had to deal with cataracts back then.
 

Cooking & Usage Tips​

Hob - From Ambient Stovetop FOR MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS SEE BOTTOM 1. In medium saucepan, bring 1 cup (250 mL) water and 1 cup (250 mL) milk just to a boil. 2. Stir in package contents and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling gently for 7 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. 3. Stir in 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Becel® margarine, let stand 3-5 minutes. Microwave - From Ambient Microwave Directions In an 8 cup (2 L) microwave-safe bowl, combine water, milk, margarine and package contents. Microwave uncovered at High about 12 - 14 minutes* or until pasta is tender, stirring every 2 minutes. Let stand 3-5 minutes. *Microwave ovens vary; adjust times as needed. Directions above developed in 1200 watt microwave.

Ingredients​

Wheat Pasta, Corn Starch, Modified Milk Ingredients, Maltodextrin, Textured Soy Protein, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Garlic Powder, Sodium Citrate, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Corn Syrup Solids, Dried Parsley, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Spice, Potassium Phosphate, Caramel Colour, Annatto Colour, Natural Flavour, Bha, Mono & Diglycerides. Contains Wheat, Milk, Soy.

Preparation And Usage​

Cooks in 8 minutes
 
hollydolly said:

Cooking & Usage Tips​

Hob - From Ambient Stovetop FOR MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS SEE BOTTOM 1. In medium saucepan, bring 1 cup (250 mL) water and 1 cup (250 mL) milk just to a boil. 2. Stir in package contents and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and continue boiling gently for 7 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. 3. Stir in 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Becel® margarine, let stand 3-5 minutes. Microwave - From Ambient Microwave Directions In an 8 cup (2 L) microwave-safe bowl, combine water, milk, margarine and package contents. Microwave uncovered at High about 12 - 14 minutes* or until pasta is tender, stirring every 2 minutes. Let stand 3-5 minutes. *Microwave ovens vary; adjust times as needed. Directions above developed in 1200 watt microwave.

Ingredients​

Wheat Pasta, Corn Starch, Modified Milk Ingredients, Maltodextrin, Textured Soy Protein, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Garlic Powder, Sodium Citrate, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Corn Syrup Solids, Dried Parsley, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate, Spice, Potassium Phosphate, Caramel Colour, Annatto Colour, Natural Flavour, Bha, Mono & Diglycerides. Contains Wheat, Milk, Soy.

Preparation And Usage​

Cooks in 8 minutes
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Now why didn't you do this in the first place, hollydolly! <fierce scowl>
 
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CinnamonSugar said:
Or, take a pic of the instructions on your phone, then zoom in on it after the photo is taken. Large as you want.
Click to expand...
I use my phone all the time to read tiny things. It has a magnifier with a zoom to use with the camera without taking a picture. Taking a picture works to and you can keep it if needed later.
 
hearlady said:
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I use my phone all the time to read tiny things. It has a magnifier with a zoom to use with the camera without taking a picture. Taking a picture works to and you can keep it if needed later.
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How the mighty have fallen! I used to love anything that beeped and flashed, even gave advice to friends and relatives when it came to operating their computers, and now I am scared to use the iPhone my daughter gave me because it's not something I'm familiar with!

When our power fails during storms, our phones fail as well, except for cell phones, and she wants to be sure she can get in touch with me during those rare times! I have used it twice during the past three months! What a waste! Signing off as highly embarrassed! Not the first time today!
 
Old Salt said:
How the mighty have fallen! I used to love anything that beeped and flashed, even gave advice to friends and relatives when it came to operating their computers, and now I am scared to use the iPhone my daughter gave me because it's not something I'm familiar with!

When our power fails during storms, our phones fail as well, except for cell phones, and she wants to be sure she can get in touch with me during those rare times! I have used it twice during the past three months! What a waste! Signing off as highly embarrassed! Not the first time today!
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Old salt...do not be afraid of the iphone... go to Youtube and type in instructions on how to use an Iphone.. or look at this

 
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