MS EWE Seow Chie says that individual consumers can exercise their common sense and rights by not purchasing food from hawkers who jack up their prices ("Stop lamenting, be discerning"; April 22).
At shopping malls, where the price tags of the goods are clearly displayed, it is easier for consumers to be discerning in their purchases.
But at hawkers centres and foodcourts, the consumers will often know the actual price of the food they ordered only when it has been packed away in polythene boxes and handed over to them.
To help the consumer be more discerning, all hawker stalls should be made to display their food prices.
As many Singaporeans eat at hawker centres and foodcourts, perhaps the authorities could come up with a set of rules on how the prices should be displayed.
As consumer rights are involved, the Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) have a part to play.
Thus far, Case has done a good job of protecting the interests of consumers, but more on a reactive basis.
It should try, where possible, to be proactive.
The hiking of food prices by hawkers is a good example of a case in which it can play a proactive role.
Pavithran Vidyadharan
