Food Adulteration and Consumer Awareness in Dhaka City, 1995-2011.

We conducted this study to investigate the magnitude of food adulteration during 1995–2011 and consumer awareness in Dhaka city. We reviewed results of food sample testing by Public Health Food Laboratory of Dhaka City Corporation, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution, Consumers Association of Bangladesh publications, reports from lay press, including those on mobile magistrate court operations. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 96 residents of Dhaka city, using a structured questionnaire in 2006. The overall proportion of food samples adulterated decreased during 2001-2005, and 40-54% of daily-consumed food was adulterated during 1995-2011. More than 35 food items were commonly adulterated. Consumers considered expiry date and quality or freshness as the best criteria while buying packaged and open food items respectively; only 11 (12%) respondents considered approval of regulatory authority for buying packaged food items. More than half of the food consumed in Dhaka city is adulterated, which warrants actions by the Government, the industry, and the consumers.

Consumer Awareness and Demand for Country-of-Origin Labeling at Restaurants: For Adults Who Live in Seoul

The purpose of this study was to investigate consumer awareness and demand related to country-of-origin labeling at restaurants, and to provide basic data to reexamine the need for current policies and to determine problems. The study found that 70% of the respondents thought that the implemented representation policy had improved food quality, and 81.3% of the respondents checked country-of-origin labeling at restaurants. In addition, 74.7% of the respondents answered that "reward for accusation" was appropriate policy. Regarding the degree of recognition of the meat importers, the respondents were well aware of the importing countries, but did not recognize the importing country of chicken. In terms of preference for meat importers, Australian beef was rated highest, but beef from the U.S. was ranked seventh. However, in preferences for pork and chicken, U.S. products were rated highest. According to the survey, in a question regarding the perception toward country-of-origin labeling, the respondents recognized that rice, beef, pork, and chicken were the targeted items. In addition, the respondents suggested that other food ingredients at restaurants should be designated as target items for country-of-origin labeling.