bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combating deceptive advertisements and labelling on food products – an exploratory study on the perceptions of teachers
Authors: Lai Yeung Wai‐ling Theresa 
Published: May 2003

People are becoming more health conscious nowadays, but most of them are not able to adopt a lifestyle with adequate physical exercise and a healthier eating pattern. Many attempt to compensate by taking ‘health foods’. Despite the recent economic recession, the functional food market expands rapidly in Asian countries. Recent statistics indicate a huge increase in weight loss and functional food product advertising expenditure in Hong Kong and other Asian countries. In a massive survey conducted by the Hong Kong Consumer Council, it was found that 85% of the medicines, health food and therapies sampled contain questionable claims and misleading messages (Consumer Council, 1999). In fact, young people do not understand much about modern food processing, in particular those present in low energy and functional foods, and they know very little about the modern food marketing strategies. The situation is detrimental to consumer welfare especially to the younger generation.This study attempts to reflect critically on the implications of these issues for the health and well‐being of young people in Hong Kong. It explores directions for designing relevant and effective education programmes to empower young people in understanding food advertising strategies and making informed decisions on food choice. The paper will begin with a critical review on the current situation in Hong Kong. An interview survey on preservice and in‐service teachers’ perception towards misleading food advertising and labelling will then be reported. The situations at schools will be defined and problems faced by teachers in providing relevant consumer education programmes to students will be identified. Finally, the study will look to the future, with a view to developing students’ critical skills in evaluating claims offered in food advertisements.
Can we learn to live differently? Lessons from ‘Going for Green’
Authors: Collins Andrea J. 
Published: May 2003

Participation at the local level is an important factor in determining the success of programmes developed to achieve sustainable development. This paper is concerned with debates over the role of the individual citizen in relation to that participatory process. In particular, it focuses on the UK government's citizens’ environmental initiative ‘Going for Green’. Through this initiative a five‐point   Green   Code   was   developed   to   assist   in   the   delivering of its sustainable development message. The initiative's overall approach to participation was based on an assumption that the primary barrier to translating environmental concern into local action was a lack of information, and individuals would respond to messages in a similar way.As a research strategy, the case study was used to evaluate methods and processes used to implement the initiative's pilot Sustainable Communities Project in two comparative geographical communities in Merthyr Tydfil (South Wales). Research findings from this study have demonstrated that the case study was invaluable in terms of understanding the participatory process and experiences of a broad range of community stakeholders. Promoting a single model of participation was found to restrict the participatory process in terms of who was encouraged to participate, the scope of their participation, and those outcomes that could be achieved. This paper concludes that if significant progress is to be made in relation to achieving sustainable development, the role of individual citizens needs to be extended beyond that of a consumer of the environment, and also include active participation in a process that is based on collective action.
Sustainable consumption
Authors: Kurowska S. 
Published: May 2003

Sustainability is one of the most important issues facing the world today, and yet many consumers are confused about what the term means. The question of how to create and maintain a sustainable lifestyle is a complicated one. How can we live in a way that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs? Would consumers understand the issue better if we used the phrase ‘responsible consumption’?The Welsh Consumer Council is working on a number of projects that look at different aspects of sustainable development. Wales has one of the only governments in the world with a statutory duty to promote sustainable development, and yet patterns of consumption are spiralling out of control. If everyone in the world lived like consumers in Wales, we would need nearly two extra planets to sustain ourselves. In the fields of energy, food, waste, water, and travel, we are using up far more resources than can be replenished.This paper will examine the progress of sustainable development in Wales in the wake of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August 2002. It will provide an overview of current consumption patterns and will identify some of the main factors inhibiting people in Wales from making more sustainable consumer choices. It will examine the popular image of sustainability, and will also identify what drivers are in place to encourage sustainable consumption.
Home hygiene, habits and sustainability in a theoretical framework
Authors: Terpstra P.M.J. 
Published: May 2003

The number of intestinal infections that are acquired in the domestic environment is substantial; for The Netherlands 2 million infections per year are estimated. Some of these infections are caused by the consumption of contaminated food. But others are caused by other sources like contaminated surfaces and objects in the living environment, pets and contaminated air. According to present insights this second group of infections might even be bigger then the nutritional part. So it is evident that soil and dirt in a living environment pose a health risk for the people involved.Domestic cleaning is a proper means to raise the level of hygiene in the home. Efficient cleaning processes do not only remove visible soil and stains but remove micro organisms also in an effective way. Therefore the hidden target of cleaning is the elimination of germs from the living environment.Traditional cleaning processes were highly efficient in removing both soil and germs. When objects and surfaces were perceivably clean this implied also that they were clean from a hygienic point of view. In the last decades this picture has changed substantially. Visually clean does not imply any longer that the level of hygiene is adequate. Several social changes and technological measures meant to achieve a sustainable society appear to be responsible for this phenomenon. The results of various researches including a recent study on European level into this relationship support this statement.In the paper the impact of past social and technological changes on home hygiene and the nature of the relation between cleanliness and hygiene in the domestic setting will be elaborated. In addition it will be discussed what implications this change can have for the members of the household, and how a household has to deal with it.
Will consumers accept irradiated food products?
Authors: Nayga Rodolfo M. 
Published: May 2003

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 76 million people get sick, more than 300 000 are hospitalised, and 5000 Americans die each year from food‐borne illness. Research over the past 40 years has shown, however, that food irradiation can decrease the incidence of food‐borne illness and disease. Despite this benefit, food irradiation has been the focus of much controversy for years. Proponents of irradiation claim that it will improve food product safety by reducing harmful bacteria. Opponents, on the other hand, raise concerns about its long‐term health effects, nutrient loss, and worker safety at irradiation facilities. The debate intensified recently when the US government approved the use of irradiation to kill E. coli 0157:H7 and other harmful bacteria in ground beef and other raw meat. The US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are also expected to decide soon whether to allow the process to be used on sandwich meats, hot dogs, and similar packaged food products.This study examines consumer willingness to pay for irradiated beef products. About 58% of the respondents are willing to pay a premium for irradiated beef. An ordered probit with sample selection model was estimated. Our findings suggest that females and those who think that improper handling contributes to food poisoning are more likely to pay a premium of 50 cents per pound of irradiated beef than others. Those who trust the irradiation technology are more likely to pay a premium of between 5 and 25 cents per pound for irradiated beef.
Safe for whom? The tangled web of patient medication
Authors: Gould N.J. 
Published: May 2003

Product safety is related to consumer/user competence. Pharmaceutical products usually have high associated risks that can be compounded by irregular consumption practices. Of particular concern are older people who, due to a variety of reasons, cannot comply with pharmacy instructions. Medication compliance for this group often depends on co‐ordinating the efforts of formal and informal carers. Failure to co‐ordinate can lead to both serious medical consequences and litigation against carers.Based on the experiences of an action research project, the paper initially details the substantive issues within a product/service‐delivery framework. The roles of agents and surrogate shoppers are noted. The wider regulatory and legal context is then explored with reference to the pharmaceutical industry and health and social care providers. These local and global considerations give rise to a discussion of the applicability of existing theoretical approaches to the problem of ensuring the timely and accurate administration of medication for vulnerable older people. In formulating the specifications of service re‐design using complexity and network theories, the continued relevance of traditional (e.g. 4Ps/7Ps) and current (e.g. relationship) marketing paradigms is demonstrated. In conclusion, the paper highlights the need to balance risks, rights and responsibilities in cases where strict forms of empowerment are inappropriate.
How do patients make use of health‐related information from the Internet? Investigating the views of the public and healthcare professionals
Authors: Dolan Gina 
Published: May 2003

Patients’ use of health‐related information from the Internet is increasing at an exponential rate. Although we have some information about how health professionals use the Internet (Roscoe, 1998; Wilson, 1999) we know little about how patients utilise this information. Some patients may actively seek information to assume more responsibility for their health. However, others may feel forced into doing so because of failing confidence in health care provision. Health professionals have the potential to assist patients to make sense of health information from the Internet; however, they may not necessarily welcome this role (Wilson, 1999; Eberhart‐Phillips et al., 2000). This study aims to evaluate patient use of such information in primary care and to establish how this can be directed in the future.851 adult patients from general practice were surveyed about the health information they use, including the Internet. 50 patients from     the     survey     were     then     randomly     selected     for     interview. 12     health     care     professionals     were     also     interviewed     about how patients use the Internet and the impact this has on consultations.The majority of patients (80%) prefer to use their GP as a source of health information. The remaining sources of information received significantly lower ratings. However, the Internet was the second most preferred source of information (7%).Of those using the Internet about two thirds felt more prepared and able to participate in decision‐making about treatments.The majority of patients rely on their doctor for health information. However, many patients actively use the Internet as an information source. The use of Internet information during consultations is on the increase, and although patients are positive about such use, doctors do not necessarily welcome Internet informed patients. It is now necessary to identify the training needs of health care professionals for dealing appropriately with Internet informed patients.
Factors influencing the search for information about genetically modified food products
Authors: Kolodinsky M.J. , Narsana T.R. 
Published: May 2003

A recent application of biotechnology to food is genetic modification. Genetically modified (GM) plants, animals and processed foods have been introduced to the international marketplace in the 1990s. As scientific and technological progress in modern biotechnology continues at a breakthrough pace, the consumers are presented with different types and levels of information that is potentially relevant for making choices.Findings from studies of consumer attitudes and awareness towards GM products have varied greatly. Many studies, however, have indicated that public opinions about GM products are not fully formed and the task of informing the public is far from over. This study expands on previous research by examining the factors that influence the search for information about GM products. Utilizing the theory of consumer behaviour and information search, we analyse consumers’ information search patterns about GM products. Specifically, we estimate the probability that consumers search for information actively, passively or do not search for information at all, and the factors influencing this search.An ordered probit model is formulated to measure the factors, both economic and behavioural, that influence in‐formation search by consumers for GM products. Variables representing the informational attitudes and behaviour related to GM products have the greatest impact on the probability of searching for information about GM products. With the exception of age, demographic factors are not significant. The results point to information search, not, for the genetically modified characteristic, but instead for the absence of the characteristic.
Use of persuasive techniques on Internet shopping sites
Authors: Subramaniam Anita 
Published: May 2003

Huge strides in technological development combined with marketing strategies have led to dramatic changes in the way information is transmitted and communicated to the consumers, and subsequently used by the consumers. Information has become a dominant factor in determining why, where, what, and how consumers shop, process information, and make decisions. While marketing information has always been an important factor in consumer decision‐making, its provision on demand and added convenience via the Internet has created a need to research the nature and amount of information that these technologies provide.Advertisements use different forms of persuasion to gain consumer attention, meet their economic and emotional shopping needs, to create a positive image of the product, brand, and the shopping medium, and influence consumers to purchase the product. Persuasion may be classified as functional congruity and self‐congruity routes to persuasion (Johar & Sirgy, 1991). Fifty websites were studied for utilitarian and value‐expressive forms of persuasion by product differentiation. The websites were classified as those selling tangible products only and those selling intangible products only, and those selling both tangible and intangible products. The paper will present results of the study along with a discussion and conclusion with implications on consumer well‐being.
Adolescents as consumers of restricted media content: empowering adults as mediators
Authors: Thompson Sonya 
Published: May 2003

Children and youth are a dominant consumer force in the media marketplace and restricted media content is part of the near environment of many adolescents, both at home and in their communities. Yet, little attention has been paid to adolescents as consumers of film, video, DVD, Internet, video games, pay per view, satellite and digital cable television content that has been deemed ‘adult’ or restricted content by government and industry regulators. Using a human ecology framework, this research assess what types of restricted media content 13 and 14 years olds are exposed to at home and in the community, how they come to have access to different types of restricted material, how they regulate their own consumption of sexually and violently explicit media content, what they think is appropriate viewing for themselves.The media environment of adolescents is continually changing with the proliferation of new technologies, and restricted content is pervasively and aggressively marketed to adolescents. Market forces, government regulation, parental guidance, and media in its social context determine what children are exposed to. This research investigates the interaction between these forces and their outcomes for adolescents in the province of Alberta, Canada. Adolescents in Alberta have the highest rates of film, video, and DVD viewing in Canada, as well as the highest saturation of Internet in homes. Alberta's system of film classification (age restrictions   on   film,   video,   and   DVD)   is   similar   to   that   of most EU countries, providing a context for international comparison.Findings from this research are critical to policy makers, regulatory bodies, media producers, educators, and parents in establishing practices to protect and educate young consumers. Information about Alberta adolescents’ consumption of restricted media content and how they gain access to it will ultimately affect children and youth by informing the societal forces which govern their media use.
Labels and hangtags: tool for consumer empowerment and education
Authors: Chowdhary Usha 
Published: May 2003

Advertisers use social marketing to inform and convince consumers of the available products. The most casual apparel like jeans also comes in several brands ranging from designer names with status appeal to economical choices. Labels and hangtags serve as the first connection between the consumers and the apparel product. They address both intrinsic and extrinsic traits. Consumers use labels for social identification, information acquisition and care instructions. The threefold purpose of the reported study was (1) to determine the compliance of the information on the labels of men's jeans with the federal requirements of permanent care labelling; (2) to examine the content and significance of information on the hangtags; and (3) to determine if the weight/unit of the men's jeans varied across various brands used for the study.A content analysis of the information on the labels and hangtags of 26 men's jeans was conducted. The information was tabulated and examined for compliance with federal regulations as well as additional information provided to convince the consumer of the products’ authenticity and performance for the intended use.The findings revealed that labels and hangtags had useful information for persuading the consumer of the longevity of the company and authenticity of the product. The analysed jeans varied for price, style, and weight to meet the satisfaction of a broad spectrum of consumers who could be price conscious, status‐driven, and/or just information‐seekers. The results support the role of social marketing in reaching a variety of consumers by offering choices. This work can be further extended to determine the impact of labels and hangtags on decision‐making across various consumer markets for jeans as well as other apparel categories.
Perceived consumer competence of college students: a qualitative exploratory study
Authors: Lachance Marie L. 
Published: May 2003

Considering the large sums of money young people spend on goods and services and the huge importance marketers grant to them, it is easy to agree on the very important role they play in today's consumer society. Autonomous role enactment involves the attainment of a certain level of performance which implies certain socially desirable behaviours. However, studies about consumer skills are rather sparse. Consequently, we do not know if young people present the necessary abilities to make educated choices, protecting their own interests and exerting their responsibilities as citizens in the community and by this, contributing to balancing the market forces. The data presented are an extract from the qualitative part of a larger study about the consumer skills of French Canadian college students. Thirteen students, aged from 18 to 22 years old, were recruited in three colleges of the Quebec City area through personal contacts with academic members. They participated in semistructured interviews during the months of November and December 2001. During the discussions, they expressed their perceptions of the skills necessary for being an educated consumer, their own level of competence in this area, the general level of competence of people of their age and that of older adults. They identified the most significant agents in their consumer socialisation and detailed the nature and content of these influences. This information implements research in consumer behaviour from a non‐commercial perspective and has helped to plan the quantitative stage of the study which is presently under way. The study is financed by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
A comparative investigation between functional foods and their alternatives with respect to medical claims made
Authors: Harrison Catherine , Brown Ian 
Published: May 2003

This study sets out to investigate claims made by manufacturers regarding the medical benefits of some functional foods. A range of functional foods has come onto the market, providing the potential for customers to tailor their food choices more closely to their needs, providing they understand how to incorporate the appropriate products into their diet.Claims regarding beneficial effects include: prevention or reduced risk of a symptom or disease such as osteoporosis with those foods enriched with calcium, enhancement of the digestive system by using probiotic yoghurt drinks or the treatment of disease by introducing plant sterols to reduce LDL cholesterol and thus the risk of heart disease.Data were collected from the nutritional information provided by the manufacturers and analysed comparatively by contrasting the functional food with their ‘everyday’ alternative, which do not make any special claims.Results     show     that     in     the     majority     of     cases     the     actual claims     made     by     the     manufacturer     were     not     substantiated and actually proved misleading and deceptive. It was considered that most products were over‐rated with regard to price and function.The work concludes that whilst functional foods are now established on the market in many cases the claims are not substantiated and in some cases products have been withdrawn.