Overview
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An important element of food safety policy is the education of
consumers about safe food handling, storage, and preparation
practices. Policymakers also use information to influence safe
production practices. Labeling and education programs are both used
to influence consumer and producer behavior.
Information policy involves providing or requiring information
about specific product attributes, the proper use of a product, or
best production practices. Additionally, policymakers can influence
market outcomes through taxes, subsidies, and production and
marketing regulations.
ERS studies how labeling information affects food choices and
diet quality; this research is relevant not only for nutrition
policy but for the design and evaluation of food safety policy. ERS
focuses on:
- whether consumers have enough information to make informed food
choices,
- what the private sector can do to provide informative food
labels,
- what role the public sector can play in providing information,
and
- the costs and benefits of mandatory labeling.