Why is it important for consumers to know where the products they buy come from?

Many countries do not have the same strict health regulations as western countries. This means that food produced there can be of a lower standard to food produced nationally, and may cause health concerns.

The further away food is produced the higher carbon footprint it produces to reach a local supermarket.

If you know where your food is coming from then you can make an educated decision when in the supermarket.

If you are referring to material goods then it is important to know so that people can choose to buy local products rather than those made overseas. This is better for the local economy.

Some countries have very bad labor laws that allow exploitation of citizens, it is good to avoid buying products from these nations.