Consumers
It is a universally accepted idea that people have the right to expect their food to be safe, of good quality and suitable for consumption.
“The Right to Food is recognized as a human right and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and two legally binding international covenants. Implicit in this is a right to safe, nutritious, diverse, affordable and accessible food. Through its statutory purpose of protecting consumer health and facilitating fair practices in the food trade, Codex work supports countries to uphold the Right to Food.
Consumer awareness
In the 1940s, rapid progress was made in food science and technology. With the advent of more sensitive analytical tools, knowledge about the nature of food, its quality and associated health hazards also grew quickly.
Articles about food at all levels flourished, and consumers were inundated with messages in popular magazines, the tabloid press and on the radio. Some were correct, some incorrect and some sensationalized – but the genuine interest in the topic reflected a shift in public consciousness about food. Knowledge about food safety grew as a consequence.
At the same time, as ever more information about food became available, there was greater consciousness on the part of consumers. Whereas, previously, consumers’ concerns had extended only as far as “visibles” – underweight contents, size variations, misleading labelling and poor quality – they now embraced a fear of “invisibles” – potential health hazards due to micro-organisms, excessive pesticide residues, environmental contaminants and inappropriate food additives that could not be seen, smelled or tasted.
Consumer groups
Historically, well-organized consumer groups have pressured governments worldwide to protect people from poor quality and hazardous foods.
Today, Codex work has authority in the field of international food standard setting precisely because these same consumer associations are active in Codex. They play a vital role in ensuring that Codex texts are of the highest quality.
Key facts
How many consumer groups are accredited as Codex observers?
Consumer groups are considered observer organizations to Codex.
There are currently more than 20 international consumer associations accredited to Codex
Do consumers take part in the debate?
In accordance with the provisions for Observer Organizations, consumer groups are permitted to intervene during Codex sessions. They are recognized as delegates and called to speak after interventions from Members. While these groups do not have voting rights, the technical expertise and concerns raised by consumer representatives are considered throughout the standard-setting process, and they make a valuable contribution to the development of Codex texts