Novel foods and consumer rights: Concerning food policy in a liberal state

In the public debate concerning novel foods, some consumer groups claim a c onsumer right to have access to certain kinds of food in the market. To dis cuss such statements, the paper identifies the reasons that may justify lib eral states-to regulate food. Although it defends certain paternalistic act ivities, it favours an autonomy-centred food policy. Autonomy and consumer sovereignty require that certain conditions are fulfilled. It may be argued that one such condition is that the consumer should have choices. Against this position, the paper defends the view that liberty rights to choose are limited to areas which are of great importance for personal identity and t he good life. Local decisions in the area of food consumption do not have s uch importance, though global ones may have it. But-even if this were true, government activity to protect such liberties should be limited to the gua rantee of formal conditions for the good life of persons. It is not a legit imate task of the government to safeguard specific conceptions of the good life.