How government policies shape the food and nutrition information environment.

摘要

This paper discusses how government policy shapes the information environment in which consumers make food choices. Government's most important information role may be in supporting the production of basic scientific knowledge about the relationships between diet and health. Government also plays a role in education and in shaping the types of information available to consumers. Among the issues highlighted by the author are the importance of incentives in determining the types of products offeredfor sale, the key role of scientific uncertainty and the dynamic nature of the diet - health knowledge in shaping regulatory choices, and finally, the importance of recognizing consumer heterogeneity in assessing the success of regulatory rules and othergovernment initiatives. Particular reference is made to the USA.