Food: a priority for consumer protection in Asia and the Pacific Region

Food is mankind's most basic need. A recent global survey revealed that the single most important problem in the world--in developed and developing countries alike--was the high cost of living, and of food, its major component. In a world where many are starving, undernourished, malnourished or suffering from deficiency diseases, the problems of food quality and safety must be given special attention. Many developed countries have already made food a priority and created effective systems of consumer protection for food. But a number of developing countries are still struggling with the best way to control food problems. This paper will deal primarily with food and consumer protection problems in Asia and the Pacific region, but the solutions offered are universal.