Answer and Explanation:
It would be nice to live in a world where companies and manufacturers worry about us, our safety, our health, and our money. It would be so nice that it would be, in fact, utopian. The world we live in has a completely different reality, one in which companies aim for profit, even if that means targeting uninformed consumers. It has always been like this, and it will probably never change for good.
Of course, things have gotten better over the years. Regulations have been passed that demand a certain level of transparency, that prohibit the use of certain ingredients, that ensure a minimum of safety, that forbid certain types of ads, and so on. But, of course, there is a limit to what the government can do, after all it is in its best interest to let the wheels of the economy turn.
Companies take advantage of whatever loophole they can find. Brands of soda and fast-food restaurants, for instance, do not advertise reality. They create an image to convince consumers that, by drinking and eating their products, they will be happier. Their adds do no talk of the ridiculous amount of sugar or fat in their products. Instead, they show happy families sitting around the table, smiling as they consume what will, potentially, lead them to obesity and other health problems.
However, are they to blame? They are not breaking the law – at least, as long as there are no regulations for that kind of advertising. And, even though they are not telling the truth, they are not necessarily lying as well. It is a fine line, but the line is there. Consumers nowadays have the means to look information up. As a matter of fact, information has never been more available than it is now, thanks to the internet and to smartphones. Not only that, but there are more and more studies, articles, documentaries, and interviews concerning health, food, safety, capitalism, and so on.
Thus, even though we would love for companies to be the ones doing all the worry, we must accept that reality demands it from us as well. It is up to us to look up information before making a decision. A Harvard study shows that well-informed consumers tend to make healthier choices. They also save money by usually buying store-brand products instead of national, more expensive ones. Taking the time to do some researching leads to better decisions. And, with information at just one click away, we do not have an excuse not to do it.
