Food label and misleading messages in consumer information

Authors

  • Lorenzo Bairati Università degli Studi di Scienze Gastronomiche - Pollenzo
  • Elena Grasso Università degli Studi di Torino

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1344/rbd2018.1.20417

Keywords:

food labeling, consumer law, behavioral sciences, voluntary information, unfair commercial practices

Abstract

Both consumers and institutions consider food label as an essential compass in the purchase of foodstuffs. However, label information, although truthful, does not always allow consumer orientation. Indeed, mandatory information, either per se or in interaction with optional elements, advertising, or with the identity and cognitive baggage in consumers’ psyches, may end up providing suggestive, implicit or misleading messages.
This paper aims at analyzing the representative and volitional processes underlying purchasing decisions, which - in this specific case - assume particular characteristics depending on the type of good that is the object of the contract and on the special conditions under which it is concluded. The article also seeks to investigate the interference of professionals in the decision-making process. This will be done through the study of several leading cases that highlight the intrinsic limits of the label as an informative tool.

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Published

2018-02-19

How to Cite

Bairati, L., & Grasso, E. (2018). Food label and misleading messages in consumer information. Revista De Bioética Y Derecho, (42), 33–49. https://doi.org/10.1344/rbd2018.1.20417

Issue

2018: Núm. 42 - mar - Dossier on food, ethics and law, coordinated by M.J. Plana

Section

Monographic Dossier

License

Licencia de Creative CommonsThe author retains the copyright and grants Revista de Bioética y Derecho the right of first publication of the article. All articles published in Revista de Bioética y Derecho are under Creative Commons licensing Recognition – Non Commercial – NoDerivedArtwork (by-nc-nd 4.0), which allows sharing the content with third parties, provided that they acknowledge its authorship, initial publication in this journal and the terms of the license. No commercial use of the original work or generation of derivative works is permitted.