Running head: CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

Consumer Rights to Informed Choices on

Food
Ashley Daniels
Siena Heights University
LDR604

CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

Consumer Rights to Informed Choices on Food

Choices are decisions we have to make every day. They can be good, bad, and even ugly
sometimes. Making a choice can also be empowering. One decision or choice can lay out a
pathway to ones future. Americans also have the right to be informed to make a choice or
decision. Most people have the ability to do research, gain knowledge, and form an educated
opinion on any certain topic. Using those rights, allow individuals to make the best choice for
themselves personally. This paper will discuss consumer rights to informed choices when it
comes to food. There is much controversy out there as to what foods are healthy. Products that
are planned, produced and delivered, are not always done so with consumers best health or
safety interests in mind (Weiss, 2014). Many documentaries have been made using scare tactics
to get consumers thinking about what they are consuming on a daily basis. Food Inc., The
Jungle, and Super Size Me are just a few of the films that highlight questionable food products.
The responsibility then lies in the hands of the consumer to decide what is healthy.
What is the Problem?
In 2013, obesity, due to poor food choices, was classified as a medical disease (Pollack,
2013). Obesity and overall weight gain in the American population changed from a problem to a
crisis when it was made an issue of public concern by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
and the National Center for Health Sciences. (Weiss, 2014). This has brought upon many of the
movies created and efforts such as the First Lady Michelle Obamas push for healthy eating.
There is a preconceived notion that healthy food is expensive and very time consuming. There
are foods high in fat, sugar, and calories readily available for a very cheap cost. It is easy to drive
through the McDonalds drive-thru and order something off the dollar menu. People live
extremely busy lives and fast food makes the meal process quick and easy. Fast food chains have

CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

reacted to consumers demand for healthier items by making changes to their menus and
marketing strategies. The FDA has also joined the fight against obesity by initiating programs to
count calories (Weiss, 2014). These are all great changes, especially because it is bringing
about awareness of a very serious epidemic. The problem still then lies in food additives that are
being added to healthy foods. Take McDonalds for example, many of the ingredients being
used here in the United States are banned in London. In London, additives like growth hormones,
artificial sweeteners, and artificial colors are not allowed in the food. Dr. Mercola (2013)
explains that more than 3,000 food additives like preservatives, flavorings, colors and other
ingredients are added to U.S. foods. Meanwhile, many of these are banned in other countries,
based on research showing toxicity and hazardous health effects. Even healthy foods such as
salads at McDonalds in the United States contain genetically modified ingredients like powdered
cellulose, soybean oil, autolyzed yeast extract, and high fructose corn syrup. (Hari, 2015). A new
study, published in the journal Nature, finds evidence that these chemicals in food can alter the
gut bacteria, or microbiome, potentially causing intestinal inflammation. The inflammation
makes a person more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome and
significant weight gain (Firger, 2015).
Most people do not know to look at the actual ingredients. They look at menu buzzwords
and special indicators telling the consumer that this is a healthy item on the menu. An example
of this is the Applebees menu. On the menu, there is a green apple next to the items that are less
than 500 calories. The next factor consumers are taught to look at is calorie count. The calorie
count means nothing when the harmful ingredients are overlooked. This is where it becomes
important for this information to be visible to consumers. In school, it is taught to kids in health
class that it is important to count calories. The students are taught to read nutrition labels, but

CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

there is no mention of the actual ingredients. Based on the middle school curriculum for grades
Six through Eight, the students are asked to bring in food labels. They are then asked to divide
into groups and answer the following questions: Which essential nutrients are included? How
many servings are there in the container? Is the listed serving size realistic in terms of what a
normal person would eat? What percentage of the calories is derived from fat, from
carbohydrates, and from protein? What is the sodium content? Is it higher than we would like? In
what circumstances is this food generally eatenis it a nutritious food, or does it qualifies as
junk food? (Crain, 2001). Reading the ingredient list is the only way to know exactly what is
being consumed. This is where consumer rights come into play. The knowledge is not there
regarding what the harmful ingredients do to the body. According to Thomas Marxs SevenPhase Issue-Development Process, a felt-need, or demand, must be made. The felt-need then
evolves into interest group momentum from which stakeholders develop policies and later
legislation at the local, state, and federal levels (Weiss, 2015). There must be a demand in order
to gain transparency.
Consumer Rights
In 1985, the UN General Assembly adopted policies to provide a framework for
strengthening national consumer protection around the world. Eight policies were put into place.
Weiss (2015) outlines the policies:

The right to safety: To be protected against products, production processes, and services

which are hazardous to health or life.

The right to be informed: To be given facts needed to make an informed choice.
The right to choose: To be able to select from a range of products and services with
satisfactory quality.

CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

The right to be heard: To have consumer interests represented in the making and

execution of government policy.

The right to satisfaction of basic needs: To have access to basic essential goods and

services.
The right to redress: To receive a fair settlement of just claims.
The right to consumer education: To acquire the knowledge and skills needed to make an

informed choice.
The right to a healthy environment: To live and work in an environment which is nonthreatening to the well-being of present and future generations.

These rights are powerful. Each one is relatable to life in general. The government has developed
these policies specifically for consumer use. It is up to the consumers to utilize these rights and
make the most out of them.
Personal Application
This is a tough topic for me to discuss and not put all of my emotions into the paper. Food
and its relationship with the body is something that I have been studying for many years. I have
had great success not only with myself, but with many of my clients when it comes to healing the
body with food. I truly believe the right foods can be used medicinally. I also believe food can
cause health problems if the correct ones are not consumed. As a health coach, one common
denominator I found with everyone who walked through my door, was the fact that no one knew
anything about the food they were consuming. They knew how to read the nutritional facts on the
label and that too much fat, sugar, and carbohydrates were not good for you. Beyond that, they
had no idea as to what these foods actually did to the body and how the body processes them. To
be honest, I never did either until it was brought to my attention and I started to do my own
research. It is hard to go against the grain on this topic. Many other countries have done years

CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

more worth of research on the effects of these additives to our bodies. The United States is
starting to scratch the surface. If there is not a demand for the research, it will not be done. My
take-away in this paper would be to open the eyes of consumers and to utilize these rights that
we have been given. Who knows, maybe in the end you find yourself feeling better than you ever
imagined you could? I know I did!
Conclusion
Health is important to all consumers. McHale (1978) lists health as one of the basic
human needs. Food is an important factor when it emanates to health. Without another one of the
basic human needs, food, health is not an option. One of the specific consumer rights listed
above is the right to satisfaction of basic human needs. These rights were put into place to make
sure consumers have the ability to live the best and healthiest life possible. Staying informed
and exercising the right to choose will allow for just that. Dating back to 431 BC, Hippocrates
shared some words of wisdom that still apply today, Let food be thy medicine and medicine be
thy food.

References

CONSUMER RIGHTS TO INFORMED CHOICES ON FOOD

Crain, H. (2011). Middle school health (6-8) nutrition. Lees Summit R7 School District.
Retrieved from: https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/cur-health-middle-nutrition2011.pdf
Firger, J. (2015, February 25). Food additives linked to obesity, digestive problems in study. CBS
News. Retrieved from: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/food-additives-linked-to-obesitydigestive-problems/
Hari, V. (2015, March 27). This is for everyone that still eats McDonalds. Food Babe. [Web log
post]. Retrieved from: http://foodbabe.com/2015/03/27/everyone-still-eats-mcdonaldseven-wont-admit/
McHale, J., & McHale, M. C. (1978). Basic Human Needs; A Framework for Action. Retrieved
from: http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED193093
Mercola, Joseph. (2013). 10 American foods that are banned in other countries. Mercola.com.
Retrieved from: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/07/10/bannedfoods.aspx
Pollack, A. (2013, June 18). A.M.A recognizes obesity as a disease. New York Times. Retrieved
from: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/19/business/ama-recognizes-obesity-as-adisease.html?_r=0
Weiss, Joseph W. (2014). Business ethics: A stakeholder and issues management approach. (6th
ed). Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. San Francisco, CA.