Surprisingly Product Recalls Don't Change Eating Habits

In the wake of the ever-expanding peanut butter recalls I found this news surprising and a little troubling.

The Washington Post reports that, on the whole, Americans will alter their habits over the short term but revert to regular practises once the news swell has passed. Why? Psychologists theorize that "learned helplessness" is to blame.

"Few consumers, if any, had heard of the Peanut Corporation of America, the company responsible for the [current peanut butter] outbreak. Yet the Blakely, Ga.-based company sold its products to more than 70 name-brand firms that used them for foods including cookies, pet food, ice cream and cereal. With the possible spread of tainted product so wide, consumers tend to believe that they can't do anything about it and their response is not to try. When faced with a perceived helplessness consumers tend to carry on with regular behaviour despite the risks.