Consumer Awareness and Consumer Protection in Hungary

The consumer asserts that his decisions are consistent and rational. He likes to believe this about himself. Based on previous surveys it can be stated that our confidence persists until the assessment of the actual level of our knowledge on consumer protection takes place, e.g. in the form of a test containing 13 substantial questions to measure the actual level of knowledge. This test was filled out by 2182 persons over 18 years of age. In overall, we can say that no matter how much we love to think about ourselves as being conscious customers, this statement is generally not true. The level of consumer protection knowledge is generally insufficient in Hungary. Only 13% of consumers have the right to say that they are knowledgeable of consumer protection at average level, while the good level was achieved only by 2.1% of the respondents

THE “INVISIBLE HAND” IN CASE OF FOODS WITH high LEVEL OF FAT, SUGAR AND/OR SALT IMPORTANCE OF FAT TAX

17.5 million obese young persons live in the European Union. Proportion of overweight or obese is more than 60% in Hungary. It causes drastic elevation of the hygienic expenses. It is a fact that foods with high level of fat, salt and sugar are popular among young people, with promoting these products we contribute to childhood obesity. Lack of legislation on market of foods with high level of fat, salt and sugar might lead to success in a short run but only for the producing companies. Profit is realized at the producing companies, but costs are borne nationally as an increased nursing cost of obese children, young and adults. Possible solutions include the introduction of fat tax. A fat tax is a tax or surcharge that is placed upon fattening foods, beverages or individuals. The fat tax aims to discourage unhealthy diets and offset the economic costs of obesity. The fat tax is used in several countries, e.g. in Romania, Denmark, Finland, etc. The introduction of fat tax is supported e.g. by the WHO or the president of U.S. The fat tax in Hungary will be introduced in two steps in September 2011 and January 2012. The fat tax rate in Hungary is too low (ca. 10%). Many experts share this opinion. The “invisible hand” does not work in case of foods with high level of fat, sugar and/or salt, restrictions are necessary

A gyermekkori elhízás és az élelmiszercímke összefüggéseinek marketing szempontú vizsgálata

Afiatalkorúak célcsoportja a piac leginkább befolyásolható szegmensét jelenti. Kutatásaink szerint a fiatalok fele nem fordít különösebb figyelmet az egészséges táplálkozásra, s a fiataloknak csupán egyharmada érti az élelmiszercímke jelöléseit. Súlyosbítja a helyzetet, hogy magas zsír-, só-, cukortartalmú élelmiszereket (például gyorséttermi láncok termékei, kóla, chips) népszerűsítenek. Ahazai élelmiszercímke-szabályozásban mindenképpen célszerű figyelembe venni más országok gyakorlatát, különös tekintettel az Egyesült Ãllamok élelmiszercímkéire, valamint a Magyar Nemzeti Szívalapítvány elképzeléseire. Az elmaradás eredménye a 20%-ban túlsúlyos, egészségügyi problémákkal küzdÅ‘ fiatal nemzedék! ---------------------------------------------------------------- The target audience of young people the most impressionable segment of the market. Our research shows that half of all young people hardly pay attention to healthy eating and only a third of them understand markings on food labels. The situation is aggravated by the fact that foods rich in fat, sugar and/or salt (e.g. the products of fast-food chains, coke, chips) are being popularized. There are not food labels supporting the consumer decision simply in Hungary. It is necessary to take other countries’ practice into consideration when designing the Hungarian food labeling regime, especially the food labels in the USA, as well as the concepts of the Hungarian National Heart Foundation. Not focusing on this issue results in a young generation, one fifth of which is facing obesity and health problems.élelmiszercímke, gyermek- és fiatalkori elhízás, magas zsír-, só-, cukortartalmú élelmiszer, fogyasztóvédelem, food label, child and youth obesity, foods with high fat, salt and sugar content, consumer protection, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty,

A globális gazdasági válság és a magyarországi agrárgazdaság kilátásai

A tanulmány a globális pénzügyi és gazdasági válság klímaváltozás – fenntart¬hatóság – globalizáció rendszerébe illesztve olyan változásokat javasol – elÅ‘nyt kovácsolva a kényszerbÅ‘l –, melyek számolnak a tényleges helyzettel és viszonylag kisebb áldozatokkal, valamint kockázattal megvalósíthatók. Ennek lényege tömören a termÅ‘föld-hasznosítás tudatos arányváltásai, a foglalkoztatás bÅ‘vítése, integrációk szervezése és az oktatás korszerűsítése. Ajavasoltak nem veszélyeztetik hazánk élelmiszer-ellátásának biztonságát, de csökkentik az agrárágazatok, a vidék energiaköltségeit, energiafüggÅ‘ségét, új munkahelyeket teremtenek, javítják a mezÅ‘gazdaságból és a vidéken élÅ‘k anyagi körülményeit, hozzájárulnak az ország energiafüggÅ‘ségének csökkenéséhez, így a gazdasági válságból való kilábaláshoz. ---------------------------------------- Making a virtue of necessity, the paper proposes changes which are based on an in-depth knowledge of the current situation with respect to the global financial and economic crisis, climate change, sustainability and globalisation, and involve relatively small sacrifices and risks. In a nutshell, these changes focus on modifying land use patterns, increasing employment rates, promoting integration and modernising education. The suggested changes do not compromise the safety of the country’s food supply. They lower the energy consumption and energy dependency of agriculture and rural areas, lead to new jobs, improve the financial well-being of rural communities, and alleviate the country’s energy dependency. Through all this, they help escape the current crisis.válság, földhasználat, foglalkoztatás, zöldenergia, oktatás, crisis, land use, employment, green energy, education, Agricultural and Food Policy,

THE MOTHER’S ROLE IN HEALTH CONSCIOUS CONSUMER SOCIALIZATION OF CHILDREN

In our research we were searching for a correlation between childhood obesity and the mother’s body shape and lifestyle. Using the Cramer’s V co-efficient, we have examined the relationship between the body shape according to BMI and the one judged by the respondent mothers. The results do not reflect the actuality in Hungary. The Cramer’s V coefficient, which measures the correlation between body shape according to BMI and the judged data of mothers were moderate: 0.519 which means that the respondents were not able to pinpoint their own exact BMI and body shape. Body shape of children supposed by mothers was also not accurate. The same tendency applies in the care of children’s supposed body shape judged by their mothers. According to our research, we can state that body type of mothers exercises influence on body shape of children. Level of influence depends on the age of children (3.6 – 8.5%)

Liquid encapsulated float zone process and apparatus

The process and apparatus for growing crystals using float zone techniques are described. A rod of crystalline materials is disposed in a cylindrical container, leaving a space between the rod and container walls. This space is filled with an encapsulant, selected to have a slightly lower melting point than the crystalline material. The rod is secured to a container end cap at one end and to a shaft at its other end. A piston slides over the rod and provides pressure to prevent loss of volatile components upon melting of the rod. Prior to melting the rod the container is first heated to melt the encapsulant, with any off-gas from this step being vented to a cavity behind the piston. The piston moves slightly forward owing to volume change upon melting of the encapsulant, and the vent passageway is closed. The container is then moved longitudinally through a heated zone to progressively melt sections of the rod as in conventional float zone processes. The float zone technique may be used in the microgravity environment of space

The effect of childhood obesity on social welfare

The young generation is the most influenced and vulnerable segment of the market. Food with high level of fat, sugar and/or salt are popularised for this segment. At the same time nearly 7 people die of obesity or from complications of obesity in Hungary each hour - one every 9 minutes. Approximately 119 million Americans, or 64.5 percent, of adult Americans are either overweight or obese. 17.5 million obese young persons live in the European Union. The result is the drastic elevation of the hygienic expenses. The average health care cost of overweight persons is higher by 42% than normal bodyweight ones. Per capita spending on fast foods is unbelievable and rising. The value of average spending was 2.5 € in 2002. Fast food sales continue to boom despite warnings about obesity. The consumption of these products can contribute to the increased level of childhood obesity. 12.0% of young person’s visited a fast food restaurant at least with a weekly regularity. The value is 16.9% in case of young men higher than in case of young ladies (8.1%) to our research. We can state the respondents underestimate the costs of fast foods.fast food, childhood obesity, cost, youth, Agricultural and Food Policy, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Food Security and Poverty, Health Economics and Policy, Marketing,