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Economics Of Food Labeling

Golan, Elise H., Kuchler, Fred, Mitchell, Lorraine, Greene, Catherine, Jessup, Amber (2000) Economics Of Food Labeling. Agricultural Economic Reports (34069). Report number: 10.22004/ag.econ.34069. United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, 41 pp. (doi:10.22004/ag.econ.34069) (KAR id:96774)

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Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.34069

Abstract

Federal intervention in food labeling is often proposed with the aim of achieving a social goal such as improving human health and safety, mitigating environmental hazards, averting international trade disputes, or supporting domestic agricultural and food manufacturing industries. Economic theory suggests, however, that mandatory food-labeling requirements are best suited to alleviating problems of asymmetric information and are rarely effective in redressing environmental or other spillovers associated with food production and consumption. Theory also suggests that the appropriate role for government in labeling depends on the type of information involved and the level and distribution of the costs and benefits of providing that information. This report traces the economic theory behind food labeling and presents three case studies in which the government has intervened in labeling and two examples in which government intervention has been proposed.

Item Type: Research report (external)
DOI/Identification number: 10.22004/ag.econ.34069
Uncontrolled keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Economics
Depositing User: Lorraine Mitchell
Date Deposited: 30 Sep 2022 14:01 UTC
Last Modified: 05 Oct 2022 17:17 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/96774 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)
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