Food choices, solidarity and consumer empowerment
Most consumers have an interest in having access to information to enable them to make rapid and healthier decisions at point of purchase, in supermarket isles and restaurants. Nowadays, some consumers are also considering the impact of their food choices on the economy and the natural environment of the countries where the foods were produced, or on the wellbeing of the labourers involved in production. Others are also interested in supporting local agriculture and local foods, as well as safeguarding or reviving traditional food products. The availability of information on food packaging, labels and at point-of-purchase will empower consumers to be able to make more informed food choices.
Parents always want the best for their children, so messages on good food choices are passed on from the very day of birth of a child. As children grow older, nutrition information is overtly and covertly transmitted to the children through the daily food purchases and preparation practices. The extended family also get involved in the matter, so that the best possible food choices are transmitted from one generation to another. Yet, teenagers growing older also have external familial factors that impact their food choices. Peer pressure, advertising, health and nutrition education at school and the media all contribute to change in food choices promoted earlier by the family. Some of these dietary changes can be positive; others can be negative. Read more
Many urban consumers lack a basic solid knowledge about agriculture processes and products. Oftentimes they rely heavily on the little information that is passed on through the mass media. Read more
Food producers are obliged by law to give specific information on the labels of products they process or pack. This applies to all food produced. So even any cottage industry processed food (e.g. gbejniet, pickled vegetables, jam, marmalade, carob syrup, honey, wine etc.) should bear the minimal information required by law, namely an ingredients list, the date mark, the place of origin, net weight and address of producer or pack. However, more information can be given to empower the consumers. For example, the producer may opt to give storage and serving instructions, information about the main ingredient, a nutritional analysis of the product, infor on the carbon footprint and so forth. Read more
Food often travels for one country to another; sometimes spanning the globe from the farthest north to the most southern point. With respect to consumers in industrialised countries, much of this is done to satisfy consumers’ wants, not needs. But are consumers truly aware of the consequences of their wants? Read more
A good portion of the food consumers purchase is of animal origin. Animal welfare activists strongly advocate that when purchasing these foodstuffs, consumers should ensure that the rearing and slaughtering procedures followed respected the animal species. Nowadays, many consumers are thinking along these lines. Read more
