Choices

This week while I was walking down the toothpaste aisle, looking for what was on sale, I began to once again consider the range of choices that consumers are offered. There must have been twenty-five or thirty different types of toothpaste on display.

The cartons that the toothpaste tubes are packed in ranged from brilliant red to sleek silver. With different size cartons on different shelves, the resulting array appeared to be a consumer's delight.

The first thought that surfaced was why do we need so many different types of toothpaste? We brush our teeth as part of our oral hygiene strategy, just as TV commercials and dentists' waiting rooms have been telling us to for years.

Naturally, brushing our teeth is important but do we really need so many choices? One or two types ought to be enough. Brushing is vital to health. But I only use one brush at a time and always buy what is on sale so why the choice?

I appreciate and value diversity but this toothpaste choice is an illusion. Take a look at the number of toothpaste manufacturers as compared to the number of different types and sizes. Is this really a choice? Is there actually any difference? If there are differences what are they and how many different toothbrushes do we actually need to meet that need, three or four, perhaps?

Now, while strolling down the fruit and vegetable aisle, desperately looking for Ontario or at least Canada produce, I'd appreciate choice. I have given up on expecting to find, in the Safeway's store, anything local, although I never stop asking for it.

We do have local farmers, a trip to the Country Market proves this. As far as I know no one locally or even regionally makes toothpaste so that has to come from elsewhere. In truth I don't buy toothpaste anywhere near as often as I do food, although the two do go together.

The best I can do is to buy some Ontario (southern) prune plums, a favourite and a few BC apples. There are no local apples, yet available so again, if I want them, I need to increase my acceptable food travel distance. British Columbia is pushing the limit but it is a Canadian source.

On the vegetable side, I know from the Country Market that there is a wide variety of greens available that far surpass the pale iceberg lettuce in the store's bins. There are maybe five different lettuces and other greens available but only one from Canada. I pass as this weekend I'll be at the market.

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