Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

It started as a simple task: to wrap the three fish Earl caught yesterday and freeze them.

First, we cleared the counter and washed our hands. Obvious precautions. Next we cut the fish into serving portions and planned to wrap each one individually for easier thawing later. No problem here. Then we gathered our supplies for wrapping. So far so good.

But the Saran™ Premium Wrap refused to cooperate, in spite of the impressive wording on its newly designed box. Words like New Formula!, No Hassle, Heavy Duty, and New Slide ‘N Cut™ bar.

The new cutting device on the outside of the box is similar to those zipper bags with a plastic closer that runs across a track. Only this closer is a little razor that runs in a track. The photo on the box showed how to use it; and, between us, Earl and I have three college degrees. You would think we coul master it.

Without belaboring the point, the new cutter sucks!

This wasn’t a life or death issue, but it did make me read everything on the box. In the fine print, I found the following message: “As a result of SC Johnson’s initiative to look for more sustainable and environmentally acceptable plastic, SC Johnson has changed the Saran ™ formula to remove chlorine.”

Now that could be a life or death issue!

So I went to one of SC Johnson’s web sites, specifically www.saranbrands.com/faq.asp. This new version of the old plastic film isn’t even mentioned on the site, but a lot of other interesting information is. You might want to take a look.

Next time Earl fishes, we’ll have a big party that night and eat everything he catches right then. It would offer more fun that wrapping and freezing ever could.