Consumer Health

DECISIONS DECISIONS!
• PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
(NAME, Company)
• PRODUCT LABEL (ingredients,
nutritious content)
• COST & QUALITY (price and
weight/grams/ml)
• FEATURES (COLOR,
FLAVOR, SCENT, SIZE,)
• SAFETY (warning, precaution)
• RECOMMENDATIONS
DECISIONS DECISIONS
DECISIONS DECISIONS
LEGIT!?!?
 WHAT IS A CONSUMER?
 Consumer-Anyone who uses
a service or a product.
 WHAT IS CONSUMER HEALTH?
 Consumer Health - A science concerned with
helping you select health products and
services wisely
BENEFITS OF BEING A WISE
HEALTH CONSUMER
 1. Save your money, time, and
increases your satisfaction
Ex. Do you buy Orange Juice
by the gallon, or do you buy
individual boxes.
BENEFITS OF BEING A WISE
HEALTH CONSUMER
 2. Protects your health!
 Wise consumers avoid buying

faulty products, or products that

could be harmful to their health.
 4 BASIC RIGHTS AS A
CONSUMER
 1. The right to safety. Consumers are
protected from dangerous products.
 2. The right to be informed. Consumers are
protected from misleading advertising.
 3. The right to choose. Consumers have the
right to make their own choices.
 4. The right to be heard. Consumers can
speak out when they are not satisfied.
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR PURCHASES!
 1. Price
 Which costs more?
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR PURCHASES!
 2. Convenience
 We pay more for convenience
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR PURCHASES!
 Convenience (Continued)

Healthy Lean Ground Beef

McDonalds Value Meal: $6.29 Cheeseburger: $3.02
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR PURCHASES!
 2a. Convenience
 If you were buying a 2 liter of soda. At which store would it cost more?
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR PURCHASES!
 2a. Convenience
 If you were buying a box of cake. At which store would it cost
more?
FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR PURCHASES!
 3. Family and Friends
 These people influence the decisions you make about products.

7-8 seaters
4-5 seaters
ACTIVITY
 QUESTION
 What are some decisions you
have made as a consumer
that may have been
influenced by a friend or
family member?
 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR
PURCHASES!
 4. Quality
 Obviously, you want to have the best quality
 Better quality may be more expensive
 IPod car adapter
 FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR
PURCHASES!
 5. Advertising
 The way in which manufacturers gain your

attention can persuade you to buy a product

 BE CAREFUL!!!
CAN YOU NAME THESE COMPANIES?
 Life's Good
 Snap, Crackle, Pop
 Nothing Runs Like A Deere
 The ultimate driving machine
 I'm loving it!
CAN YOU NAME THE SLOGAN?
CAN YOU NAME THE SLOGAN?
CAN YOU NAME THE SLOGAN?
CAN YOU NAME THE SLOGAN?
CAN YOU NAME THE SLOGAN?
QUESTIONS??
 How can advertising affect a consumer’s decision to
purchase a product?
 What types of advertisements are out there?
 Are there any products you have purchased mainly because
of the way it has been advertised?
 Consumer Education

Unit price: The "Unit Price" (or "unit cost") tells you the cost per liter, per
kilogram, per pound, etc, of what you want to buy

If something is sold in number of items (for example "10 pencils") then the same
method can be used:

Example: What is best

•10 pencils for $4.00, or

•6 pencils for $2.70 ?
Here is the Unit Cost:

•$4.00 / 10 = $0.40 per pencil

•$2.70 / 6 = $0.45 per pencil
So the lowest Unit Price (and the best bargain) is 10 pencils for $4.00
Consumer Education
 Consumer Education
Product labels: gives important information about
what a product contains
Comparison shopping: judging the benefits of
different products by comparing several factors
(ex. Quality, features, cost)
Cost & Quality: generic Vs. brand name products.
Features: What features are important to you?
 Consumer Education
Warranty: A written agreement to repair/replace a
product or refund your money if the product doesn’t
function properly.
Safety: Underwriters laboratories (electrical
appliances)
ANSI (helmets and protective gear)
Recommendations: Take advice from those who you
trust. Consumer reports….?
 Consumer Education
Consumer advocates: people or groups whose
sole purpose is to take on consumer issues,
Better Business Bureau: Provides general
information on products and services.
Reliability reports, background information,
complaints against…etc. They will also attempt
to settle consumer complaints against local
business firms
 Consumer Education
Government agencies:
Food and Drug Administration: Ensures all food &
food additives are safe (other than meat & poultry)
 Ensures cosmetics are safe

 Ensures medicines are safe and properly labeled

 Regulates advertising of prescription medicines.

 Government agencies:
Federal Trade Commission: Prevents unfair, false,
or deceptive advertising of products and
services. Regulates advertising of OTC
medicines.
Consumer Product Safety Commission: Protects
consumers against the manufacture and sale of
hazardous products and also to order a recall if
necessary.
 Government agencies:
 The National Health Information Center (NHIC) is a
health information referral service. NHIC puts health
professionals and consumers who have health questions
in touch with those organizations that are best able to
provide answers. NHIC was established in 1979
 The United States Department of Agriculture :
responsible for developing and executing policy on
farming, agriculture, and food. Works to assure
food safety, and protect natural resources
 Government agencies:
 The National Council Against Health Fraud is a
nonprofit, tax-exempt voluntary health agency
focused upon health fraud, misinformation, and
quackery as public health problems. This site,
archives many NCAHF documents that can help
people evaluate health claims.
 END…
Thankyou for listening!
Quiz!
________1. Information about
the product
________2. Generic vs. Brand
names
________3. Physical aspect of
product
________4. Judging the
difference of products
________5. Written agreement
________6. Give feedbacks
_______7. Warning/cautions
_______8. Instant process or
buying of products
_______9. Promoting product
_______10. amount of
product/service
 BASIC RIGHTS OF A
CONSUMER
1.
2.
3.
4.
 FDA –

 BBB –
 FTC –
 CPSC –

 NCAHF –
ANSWER
KEY
Product label 1. Information about
the product
Cost & Quality 2. Generic vs. Brand
names
Features 3. Physical aspect of
product
Comparison4. Judging the Shopping
difference of products
Warranty 5. Written agreement
Recommendations6. Give feedbacks
Safety 7. Warning/cautions
Convenience8. Instant process or
buying of products
Advertising9. Promoting product
Price 10. amount of product or
service
BASIC RIGHTS OF A CONSUMER
1. The right to safety.
2. The right to be informed.
3. The right to choose.
4. The right to be heard.
FDA – Food and Drug Administration
BBB – Better Business Bureau
FTC – Federal Trade Commission
 CPSC – Consumer Product
Safety Commission
 NCAHF – National Council

Against Health Fraud