Abstract: | This article examines the definition and the content of a “consumeroriented food policy.” Food policy is a balanced government strategy regarding the food economy, which takes account of its interrelationships with both national and international economy. Consumers are more especially concerned with: adequate supplies; fair and stable purchase prices; safety of foodstuffs; nutritionally well-balanced diets; fitness for special requirements; well-defined and satisfying quality, including content rules; unbiased and usable information on foodstuffs and food patterns; participation of consumers in policy-making decisions. The paper focuses on the activities of public authorities, not forgetting the present trend toward deregulation. Examples are mostly taken from the French and EEC contexts. |