Consumer Rights

FOR MANY YEARS, a foundation of America's efforts to protect its consumers has been a set of four consumer rights that have played a special role in the origins and development of the consumer movement in the post-World War II era. The significance of these rights derives from their inclusion in a “Bill of Consumer Rights” in President John F. Kennedy's Special Message on Protecting the Consumer Interest that was transmitted to Congress on March 15, 1962. This was the first communication of its kind by an American president, and it provided direction for the fledgling consumer movement of the time. The four rights are: 1) The right to be informed, 2) The right to choose, 3) The right to safety, 4) The right to ...