Nutrition labels and claims in New Zealand and Australia: a review of use and understanding

Objective: To determine how well consumers use and understand nutrition labels and claims in New Zealand and Australia. Method: A review was undertaken of the literature on nutrition labelling in New Zealand and Australia published up to the end of July 2005. Major electronic databases were searched for appropriate literature and research, as were the bibliographies of relevant publications and pertinent websites. Studies that focused on health claims were excluded. Results: Sixteen papers were suitable for inclusion in the review. All but one study evaluated self‐reported use and understanding of nutrition labels. The single study that evaluated actual (observed) use of labels while shopping found frequency to be much lower than would be expected based on self‐reported data. While self‐reported understanding of nutrition labels was common, actual (evaluated) understanding appeared moderate at best. Conclusions: Self‐reported use of nutrition labels and claims is common in New Zealand and Australia, but actual use and understanding appears limited. Nutrition labels present an opportunity to improve consumer food choice at point of purchase, but their potential value is limited by apparent lack of consumer understanding. Implications: Nutrition labels are an important part of a supportive environment that empowers people to make healthy food choices. Improving their ease of use and understanding has the potential to promote healthier food choices.     

Regulation of healthcare ethics committees in Europe

In this article, the question is discussed if and how Healthcare Ethics Committees (HECs) should be regulated. The paper consists of two parts. First, authors from eight EC member countries describe the status quo in their respective countries, and give reasons as to the form of regulation they consider most adequate. In the second part, the country reports are analysed. It is suggested that regulation of HECs should be central and weak. Central regulation is argued to be apt to improve HECs’ accountability, relevance and comparability. To facilitate biomedical citizenship and ethical reflection, regulation should at the same time be weak rather than strict. Independence of HECs to deliberate about ethical questions, and to give solicited and unsolicited advice, should be supported and only interfered with by way of exception. One exception is when circumstances become temporary adversarial to ethical deliberation in healthcare institutions. In view of European unification, steps should be taken to develop consistent policies for both Eastern and Western European countries.     

建设小康社会,营养必须立法

营养是关系人民身体素质的大事,国民营养状况是衡量国家综合国力与发展水平的重要标志。党的十六大提出全面建设小康社会的奋斗目标指出:“今后的国际竞争是综合国力的竞争,综合国力的竞争最终要体现在人的素质上”,“逐步改善国民营养水平和健康素质”。改善国民营养,必须有法     

The gap between legal rules and practice in advertising non-registered pharmaceutical products : A new method of analysis

The market of non-registered pharmaceutical products is growing fast in number and overall costs, not only in the Netherlands, but also in other European countries. These products often give the impression that the consumer may expect 'an effect as from a drug'. Legally, there is a clear distinction between 'drugs' and 'commodities' in the Netherlands; the question is whether legislation and practice concur. In an investigation we analysed texts of advertisements for non-registered pharmaceutical products published in a popular magazine. A method was developed, based on the legal definition of a drug and jurisprudence, to determine in a qualitative and quantitative way the application of medicinal claims. It transpired that in 65% of the analysed advertisements explicit or implicit claims were made. These products should therefore be subject to drugs legislation. Thus, in the Netherlands there is a gap between legislation and practice in advertising non-registered pharmaceutical products.     

Social work practice with children in the United Kingdom: Trends and issues for the 1990s

This article examines the effects of major new legislation on services for children in the United Kingdom. The Education Reform Act #op1988 and 1993#cp and the Children Act #op1989#cp operate under different principles, creating tensions and difficulties for social work practice. The authors examine challenges facing social work practice in relation to educational social work issues and children in public care. The article argues that traditional social work services for children are threatened by the delivery of welfare designed under notions of a market economy, further adding to disadvantage for children.     

P.L. 99-252 and the Roles of State and Local Governments in Decreasing Smokeless Tobacco Use

Evaluation of the impact of the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-252) will help determine the level of progress being made to reduce smokeless tobacco use and will help determine changes or new strategies needed to prevent or reduce smokeless tobacco use. Indicators of progress made toward implicit goals and explicit provisions of P.L. 99-252 are proposed as appropriate for local, state, and federal government health agencies to address. Examples of roles that can be played by health agencies relative to implicit goals of the law are drawn from experiences of public health professionals in Ohio and other states. These roles relate to work with the media, research and evaluation, surveillance activity, support for development of materials and implementation of programs, and funding for community educational programs. Indicators to measure impact of explicit provisions of the law focus on provisions specified in the public education section of the law. Proposed indicators involve monitoring the development and availability of programs, materials and media, monitoring research and dissemination of findings, and monitoring technical assistance and grants available. Possible measurement and evaluation strategies are discussed. Survey methodology seems most suitable for monitoring level and type of anti-smokeless tobacco activity in which health agencies engage and for determining awareness of resources available through the law.