World Consumer Rights Day!

Do you know your rights and responsibilities as a consumer? Well it is vital that all consumers do as this will enhance their experience in the global marketplace.

The emphasis on the knowledge of consumer rights and responsibilities was highlighted on World Consumer Rights day celebrated on March 15, 2016.

World Consumer Rights Day was first observed on 15 March 1983, and has since become an important occasion for mobilizing citizen action. It is an annual occasion for celebration and solidarity within the international consumer movement. It marks the date in 1962 when then President of the United States of America John F Kennedy, first outlined the definition of Consumer Rights.

Consumer Rights

Consumers have the right to: choose,be informed,be heard, get redress (fair refund), get satisfaction of basic needs, get healthy environment, get consumer education and be safe.

Responsibilities

Consumers also have responsibilities as they must ensure that they play their part. These responsibilities are: to be aware, to gather information/facts, think independently, speak out, complain, be ethical and respect the environment by supporting products and businesses that are environmentally friendly.

Antibiotics is off the menu

Every year consumer groups adopt a platform to ensure they continue their commitment to  ensuring they protect the rights of all consumers. The theme for 2016  is ‘Antibiotics is off the menu’.

Have you ever considered what you are eating?

If it’s fast food then beware because many of the fast food establishments use meat products from animals that have been enhanced in some way by antibiotics.

Consumers International and their members are calling on the world’s largest fast food companies to make global commitments to stop serving meat from animals routinely given antibiotics used in human medicine.

In a World Health Organization survey of 12 countries, 73% of respondents agreed that farmers should give fewer antibiotics to animals. Although antibiotics are needed for sickness, it has become more a popular practice to give them to animals to prevent them from becoming sick and develop at an increased rate to assist with profits.

What if the antibiotics stop working because of over use?

According to reports on the Consumers’ International’s website, ” The overuse of antibiotics is creating highly resistant superbugs. Without urgent action, we are heading for a post-antibiotic era, in which important medicines stop working and common infections and minor injuries can once again kill.’

We certainly don’t want that to happen!

Antibiotic resistant bacteria could then  spread from farms to people through air, soil, water, manure and the consumption of contaminated meat and animal products.

Let’s join in celebrating World Consumer Day and keep being informed of how we can better empower ourselves through knowledge!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley
Gleaner online Writer

Tags: consumer rights