Just How Much Is a "Year's Supply?"

If you are promised a year's supply of ice cream, how much ice cream will you really get?

"A year's supply of taco shells!" It's the protypical, not-so-grand "grand prize" isn't it? The 35th caller to the local radio station and the first runner-up on your grandma's favorite game show are told that they've been blessed with a guaranteed abundance of some essential household supply or an obviously awesome dessert. The initial response from both the recipient of the prize and from the onlookers is one of celebration, but is quickly replaced with obvious questions like "How much is a year's supply anyway?" And, most important, "What do you do with all those taco shells?"

But, as it turns out, that "year's supply" may not be the guarantee of abundance one assumes it is. Since it's up to the company supplying the prize to determine just what constitutes a "year's supply" there's no guarantee that what's given would last the average consumer 52 days, let alone 52 weeks. Sure, the law requires that those doling out such promises outline up front just what said supply entails and...