We’ve all seen the little white tag sticking out of a new pillow or mattress, with its intimidating warning: “UNDER PENALTY OF LAW, THIS TAG NOT TO BE REMOVED EXCEPT BY THE CONSUMER.” For years, many people have wondered whether cutting it off could get them into legal trouble. But the truth is that the warning was never meant to threaten customers. It was aimed at manufacturers and sellers.

The tags were introduced because, in the past, some bedding manufacturers used questionable or unsanitary stuffing materials without clearly telling buyers what was inside. Customers had little way of checking whether the contents matched the product description. To protect consumers, laws required manufacturers and retailers to disclose the materials used in pillows, mattresses and other stuffed products through labels attached to the items.

So who was the warning really for? It was meant to prevent businesses from removing or changing those labels before products reached customers. The information helped buyers understand what they were purchasing, and sellers were not supposed to hide it. In the United States, consumers can generally remove the tag after buying the product. The wording itself makes the distinction clear: it says the tag must not be removed except by the consumer.

Still, keeping the label’s information can be useful. It may identify filling materials, help people with allergies or sensitivities, provide washing instructions, and make the product easier to identify if it is donated or resold. You can even take a quick photo before cutting it off. The surprising truth? That warning was designed to protect you, not stop you from removing an annoying tag from your own pillow!