Promoting Educated Consumer Choices. Has EU Food Information Legislation Finally Matured?

Wieke Huizing Edinger ()
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Wieke Huizing Edinger: University of Copenhagen

Journal of Consumer Policy, 2016, vol. 39, issue 1, No 3, 9-22

Abstract: Abstract Contemporary EU food information legislation combines and balances two main consumer interests, i.e., a consumer right to information and the freedom of choice, into one single protective standard: informed choice. Although the recent legislative measures quite openly establish a link between informed choice and the rather abstract societal norm of “what is good for the consumer,” this does not justify the conclusion that food information legislation has become overly meddlesome in relation to EU consumers and their choice of food. Rather, there has been a gradual maturing of the EU legislator’s perception of its task from the mere provision of food information to ensuring educated consumer choices. This development is a logical and necessary consequence of the growing complexity of food choices.

Keywords: Food information legislation; Consumer protection; Informed choice; Average consumer; Informed consumer; Freedom of choice; Paternalistic legislation; Claims; Food information regulation; Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation; Nutrition information; Mandatory labelling; Voluntary food information; Misleading advertising (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10603-015-9307-3

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