The main problems of food allergic consumers concerning food labeling: an ethnographic study

It has been estimated that 58% of children and 12% of the adults in developed countries are affected by food allergy, with symptoms ranging from discomfort to fatality. At present, avoidance of problematic foods is the only effective treatment strategy. As of November 25 th , 2005 food manufacturers in the EU are obliged to list 12 potentially allergic ingredients in food. Although the label is still not always fully understood by the consumer, or they get confused by precautionary labelling practices. This paper aims to gain insights into the information preferences of food allergic consumers regarding existing food labelling and additional information delivery systems. The results of this study will facilitate the development of best practices in information provision regarding food safety in the area of food allergy. In particular the research will elicit preferences for new ICT approaches to information delivery which can be focused on the individual needs of consumers. We argue that improved information supply will contribute to the quality of life of food allergic people.Food allergy, consumers, food labelling, information needs, Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

The effects of food habits and socioeconomic status on overweight. Differences between the native Dutch and immigrants in the Netherlands

Overweight is a worldwide growing epidemic. The Netherlands is among the countries with the highest prevalence for overweight, together with the USA, UK, and Germany. This paper investigates differences in overweight between native Dutch and three immigrant groups in the Netherlands, and the effects of food habits and socioeconomic status on overweight. The results show that all immigrant groups have a higher prevalence for overweight than the Dutch, apart from Moroccans. Males are overweight more frequently than females. Takeaway food, eating out, and fresh vegetables decrease BMI, while convenience food, ready-to-eat meals, and delivery food (in some cases) increase BMI. In all groups, BMI increases with age. For Surinamese/Antilleans and Turks BMI increases with children living at home, whereas for native Dutch BMI decreases with children living at home. The national health expenditures due to overweight is 200 million to 4 billion Euro per year, which is 1 to 5 percent of the national health expenditures. The government and health insurance companies should try to prevent overweight and encourage healthy behavior.overweight, ethnicity, food habits, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, C20, D12, I12,

The demand for health: differences between the native Dutch and immigrants in the Netherlands

This paper estimates the demand for health by using a health capital model for different population groups (native Dutch, Surinamese/Antillean, Moroccan, and Turkish) in the Netherlands. Also the effect of overweight on health utility is investigated. We found a decrease in the demand for health for age, overweight, and smoking, we found an increase in the demand for health for level of education and marital status. The analyses show a strong effect of gender. Being female in all groups is negatively related to health utility. Turkish and Moroccan ethnicity is negatively related to health status.demand for health, health production, ethnicity, overweight, food habits, Health Economics and Policy, C24, C25, I10, I12,

The demand for health: differences between the native Dutch and immigrants in the Netherlands

This paper estimates the demand for health by using a health capital model for different population groups (native Dutch, Surinamese/Antillean, Moroccan, and Turkish) in the Netherlands. Also the effect of overweight on health utility is investigated. We found a decrease in the demand for health for age, overweight, and smoking, we found an increase in the demand for health for level of education and marital status. The analyses show a strong effect of gender. Being female in all groups is negatively related to health utility. Turkish and Moroccan ethnicity is negatively related to health status

The main problems of food allergic consumers concerning food labeling: an ethnographic study

It has been estimated that 5-8% of children and 1-2% of the adults in developed countries are affected by food allergy, with symptoms ranging from discomfort to fatality. At present, avoidance of problematic foods is the only effective treatment strategy. As of November 25 th , 2005 food manufacturers in the EU are obliged to list 12 potentially allergic ingredients in food. Although the label is still not always fully understood by the consumer, or they get confused by precautionary labelling practices. This paper aims to gain insights into the information preferences of food allergic consumers regarding existing food labelling and additional information delivery systems. The results of this study will facilitate the development of best practices in information provision regarding food safety in the area of food allergy. In particular the research will elicit preferences for new ICT approaches to information delivery which can be focused on the individual needs of consumers. We argue that improved information supply will contribute to the quality of life of food allergic people

The effects of food habits and socioeconomic status on overweight. Differences between the native Dutch and immigrants in the Netherlands

Overweight is a worldwide growing epidemic. The Netherlands is among the countries with the highest prevalence for overweight, together with the USA, UK, and Germany. This paper investigates differences in overweight between native Dutch and three immigrant groups in the Netherlands, and the effects of food habits and socioeconomic status on overweight. The results show that all immigrant groups have a higher prevalence for overweight than the Dutch, apart from Moroccans. Males are overweight more frequently than females. Takeaway food, eating out, and fresh vegetables decrease BMI, while convenience food, ready-to-eat meals, and delivery food (in some cases) increase BMI. In all groups, BMI increases with age. For Surinamese/Antilleans and Turks BMI increases with children living at home, whereas for native Dutch BMI decreases with children living at home. The national health expenditures due to overweight is 200 million to 4 billion Euro per year, which is 1 to 5 percent of the national health expenditures. The government and health insurance companies should try to prevent overweight and encourage healthy behavior

The information needs and labelling preferences of food allergic consumers: the views of stakeholders regarding information scenarios

The information provision to foodallergicconsumers might be improved if new information and communication technologies were used to optimise traceability of potentially allergenic ingredients. Eight different informationscenarios were developed, and their feasibility of application in European food chains discussed with different interested food chain actors in five European countries. The standardised label was chosen as a first preferred scenario, although participants were also positive about the feasibility of introducing novel ICT approaches to traceability and information delivery. Concerns were raised about accountability, upkeep of food allergy data bases, and the additional costs for the services to the food industry

The direct and indirect costs associated with food hypersensitivity in households: A study in the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain

Background: Recent studies show that food hypersensitivity, such as food allergy or food intolerance, has the potential to affect direct, indirect and intangible economic costs experienced by individuals and their families. This research assesses the direct and indirect economic costs of food hypersensitivity at the household level in the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. Methods:  A self-administered postal survey was conducted (n=1558). Respondents with food hypersensitivity were clinically diagnosed cases recruited through clinical centres in Poland and Spain. In the Netherlands, food hypersensitivity cases were recruited through hospitals, patient organisations and advertisements. The controls formed the baseline sample and were obtained from households in which none of the members had food hypersensitivity. The monetary value of indirect costs, forgone time, was calculated using the opportunity cost method. The indirect and direct costs were expressed in purchasing power parity. Analysis of co-variance on the cost items was used to test the within-country differences between respondents with food hypersensitivity and respondents without food hypersensitivity, as well as across the three countries. Results: The average total direct and indirect costs across all countries for families with food hypersensitive family members are not higher than for households without food hypersensitive members. However, the intangible costs for food hypersensitive individuals appear to be higher than for individuals in the control group.Conclusions: These results do not support the hypothesis that all food allergies incur high costs to the individual. However, being hypersensitive to foods may have a negative impact on quality of life compared to people who are not food hypersensitive