Unfortunately, no consumer can be 'forced' to read calorie labels in a correct fashion. A recent study by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found "significant numbers of people surveyed indicated that they lacked either the knowledge or inclination to effectively use labels...it appears that a large portion of the population isn't interested in having (nutritional information)" (Cox 2007). In a 2004 Food and Agriculture survey, "one-third of all participants were unable to accurately target their daily calorie needs" and this was "based on an expansive definition of 1500-2500 kcals" while "31% of participants looked at calories but only 5% looked at serving size" (Cox 2007). Calorie totals mean little if a person does not understand that a serving of ice cream that is 260 calories is 1/4 of a pint.
There are some policies that could be implemented to address some of the 'head in the sand' factor regarding calories. Food packages could be labeled with calories more prominently, including the calorie information on the front rather than the back of the package, as an aid to dieters. Some of the major diet manufactures of frozen foods, like Lean Cuisine and Weight Watchers...
If consumers saw that, for example, a Hungry Man dinner had 760 calories vs. A Lean Cuisine of 260 calories, he or she might think twice about purchasing the former. Clearly labeling a product with the words 'this product contains four servings' might also address some of the confusion about serving size. But ultimately more education is needed, not about calorie totals or serving sizes in specific products, but how to create a more feasible general meal plan for the American consumer on a holistic basis. This requires more awareness and more care on the consumer's part when reading labels, and better planning of the consumer's overall dietary intake. Consumers cannot occasionally make haphazard and sporadic decisions to eat low-calorie products and hope to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.
Works Cited
Cox, Lee Ann. (19 May 2006). "Do Consumers Use Calorie Labels? Fat Chance, Says
New Study." University of Vermont. The View. Retrieved 19 Apr 2007 at http://www.uvm.edu/theview/article.php?id=2045
The Food Label." (May 1999). Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 19 Apr 2007 at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdnewlab.html
Tesco, the largest UK company, employs 260,000 people. This corporation has global aspirations and has come a long way in a relatively short period of time" (2003, p. 3). According to the company's promotional literature, the employment figure for 2003 has almost doubled today, as shown in Table 1 below. Table 1 Current Key Figures for Tesco Category Statistic Staff worldwide 472,000 Staff in the UK 287,669 Stores worldwide 5,008 Total stores in the UK 2,545 Extra 13 Homeplus Superstore Metro Express OneStop Number of markets 14 Which markets China, Czech Republic, Hungary,
The analysis of the weaknesses and threats are based on an analysis of the companies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), specifically their annual reports, 10Qs and periodic filings of business activity. Table 2: While Foods SWOT Analysis Strengths: Continued revenue growth despite a challenging economy Well-executed growth strategy domestically in the U.S. And globally Strong growth in brand equity and value as a trusted advisor in organic foods Strength in acquiring and
Then in May 2000, honey on sale in supermarkets was found to be contaminated with GM pollen from British crop trials. Two out of nine samples show contamination" (Chapman 2006:5). The results of an analysis by Fox (1999) confirmed this cross-contamination of pollen: "The pollen produced by these plants, carrying new genes, cannot be contained. As a result, genetic pollution of natural crop varieties and of wild plant relatives
This modeled on the precedent here for healthy charitable contribution to active-living initiatives. Accordingly, from its $82 million raised in philanthropic funds, "$6.7 million or 18% was directed to innovative physical activity and nutrition education programs, ranging from the restoration of walking trails and biking paths through the National Park Foundation to support for the Great Fun2Run Program, a curriculum-based program in England that guides teachers, students and their
Pharmaceutical industries have to operate in an environment that is highly competitive and subject to a wide variety of internal and external constraints. In recent times, there has been an increasing trend to reduce the cost of operation while competing with other companies that manufacture products that treat similar afflictions and ailments. The complexities in drug research and development and regulations have created an industry that is subject to intense
217+). It is not only the consumer, then, who might be affected by cost; producers also might be reluctant to grown or process organic foods unless they believed that consumers would continue to be willing to pay the price of the organic foods. Their study focuses "on the benefits associated with segregation and labelling strategies that are commonly gauged by the size of premiums consumers are willing to pay