University of Virginia Library

Peterson Cautions Consumer
About Deceiving Information

By RICK KNIESLER

Explaining that consumers
have been manipulated by
misleading information in the
past years, Mrs. Esther
Peterson, Consumer Adviser to
the President of Giant Food
Inc., discussed the new
Consumer Movement and its
effect on today's society
before a sparse crowd in
McLeod Hall last night.

People should be aware and
"revolt" against the abuse of
the consumer movement,
according to Mrs. Peterson.
The 'Free Money'
advertisements in the papers
and the use of
double Social Security
number in order to reap more
benefits are examples of this
abuse," she explained.

"When I came into the picture
in the 1960's, the people
wanted truth in labeling and
packaging, but they had yet to
learn how to use the facts
derived from this
information," Mrs. Peterson
asserted.

Describes Progress

"Consumers have often felt
that they are very much on
their own, but they aren't.
There is now the understanding
of the consumers' need for fair
standards."

Mrs. Peterson described the
progress that has been made in
consumer protection. "Valid
price comparisons have finally
resulted in unit pricing," she
said. "The complete listing of
ingredients was the next battle,
so that markets could o
compete on quality and
ingredients. Nutritional
benefits were then investigated.
The consumer movement of
today not only wants more
information, but also
quality and descriptive
information," Mrs. Peterson
continued.

Need New Movement

These changes were
warranted by the needs of
consumers who wanted to
know exactly what they
purchased as the new consumer
movement started, she
explained.

Indicating that "food is
only a small area", Mrs.
Peterson stated that since
deception appears in all
possible areas, a more
sophisticated consumer
movement is needed and "is
now coming around."

Mrs. Peterson cited one
person who complained that all
the "romance" was going out
the market due to Esther
Peterson and her influences. "I
feel sorry for the person who
goes to the market for
romance," she lamented.

Mrs. Peterson concluded her
speech by referring to a
suggestion that the maxim of
honesty should be used in
guiding consumer controls.