Food labels are normally considered acceptable tools through which consumers can be informed about the contents of the foods they purchase and which therefore, unlike paternalistic measures such as 'fat' taxes, can enhance rather than undermine their individual autonomy. This paper shows that there is actually a tension between providing consumers with information (through food labels) that enhances their autonomy, and preventing them from being exposed to the psychological harm that at least some kinds of food labels may produce. If autonomy is conceived as 'self-authorship', food labelling ought to respect both the right to know of those individuals who seek knowledge about their foods in order to make informed dietary choices, and the right not to know of those individuals who prefer to remain ignorant about the contents and effects of their foods in order to avoid the emotional and psychological harm which may result from receiving that information.
