Nobody is pushing a regulation here. This is simply a polite request to consider whether keeping toxic plants next to edible plants is a wonderful idea. That doesn’t preclude an informational campaign in relevant communities as well.

Grocery stores should obviously be prepared to handle spills anywhere within the market; one can just as easily shatter a glass jar in aisle #4 as they can spill water in the flower section. It’s absurd to think that a voluntary suggestion to try to reduce the number of unfortunately confused people who wind up sick will somehow cause an epidemic of fallen little old ladies. Furthermore, no market I’ve ever seen has a dedicated “guy with a mop” on standby in the produce aisle; that’s why we have the expression “cleanup on aisle #3.”

I suppose the obvious solution is yet more customer choice. Allow markets to put their daffodils wherever they wish, but require them to post their spill cleanup plans on the front door. That way customers can decide whether they want to take the risk of entering the store based on how quickly spills will be attended to. And while they are at it, they can review the other 1,500 pages of customer choice disclosure information available on the front door. A door which has collapsed onto the customer under the weight of all the paper. Don’t worry, customer choice disclosure advocates are working on a scheme by which businesses can post their door safety plans.