The consumers' view of problems and priorities in nutrition.

Introduction In 1963 Brown, McKenzie and Yudkin examined the nutritional knowledge of housewives in a London suburb. Subsequently the findings of national studies on the subject were reported (McKenzie, 1965). Further major studies have been conducted on a fairly regular basis since that date (Margarine and Shortening Manufacturers Association, 1969; British Nutrition Foundation, 1973). However, the prime concern of these studies has been to look at the level of nutritional knowledge which housewivedconsumers possess (in particular the extent to which they can relate nutrients to foods); their views on the role which various nutrients perform in the diet; and their attitude to foods generally. The studies have not directly concerned themselves with the identification of the consumers' view of the problems and priorities in nutrition. Indeed, were consumers to be questioned in this way, it would be probable that they would not be able to very readily identify problems in the nutrition field or to set priorities for their solution.