Consumer Reports Archives Exhibitions

International Influence

Printed against a dark blue backround, the cover of this report features a circular collage, ment to resemble a globe, of diverse faces above bold light colored text reading IOCU “Giving a voice to the world’s consumers,”

IOCU: Giving a voice to the world's consumers, 1984

A poster from 1971 features stylized Japanese and English text alongside graphic motifs of unity—hands clasped, rising sun rays, and a Consumers Union emblem—welcoming cross-cultural dialogue during CU’s visit to Japanese consumer groups.

Poster created for Consumers Union visit to consumer groups in Japan, 1971

Consumers Union and the international consumer movement 

After the end of World War II, as economies recovered and production shifted to peacetime consumer goods, consumer organizations around the world began asking Consumers Union for advice on setting up testing facilities and consumer advocacy practices. In 1960, representatives from sixteen organizations representing fourteen countries met in The Hague to form an organization that would facilitate the exchange of product testing methods and consumer issues information. As a result of this meeting, the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU) was established.

The mission of the IOCU was to provide impartial testing and evaluation of consumer goods and services, to advise governments on consumer issues, to promote consumer education, and to raise consciousness about consumer rights. Consumers Union was a charter member, and its president Colston Warne served as the first president of the IOCU. In 1995, the IOCU was renamed as Consumers International and is currently composed of over two hundred organizations, representing over a hundred countries.

In 2005, Consumers Union also joined International Consumer Research & Testing, Ltd. (ICRT), a consortium of over thirty member institutions. Materials shown below represent a small sample of publications that show the range of activities and issues engaged by international consumer organizations. 

A male technician tests a baby crib’s safety using a mechanical metal rig, as featured in Råd och Rön (Sept. 1968), highlighting Sweden’s push for standardized consumer protections.

Råd och Rön, 1968
(Sweden)

A filmstrip of ketchup bottles frames this 1989 cover of atut, Poland’s consumer magazine, teasing a test on misleading product names. With playful graphics and pointed questions—“Flop of 1989?” and “Wasted potato?”—the issue blends humor with sharp critique of everyday goods.

Atut, 1989
(Poland)

A child sits near open flames (colored in orange) in this predominantly black and white 1974 Consumer cover.

Consumer 108, 1974

(New Zealand)

Magazine cover depicting fire flames visible through a white-framed window on the exterior wall.

Which? (Great Britain)

Consumer Interpol was an alert and warning newsletter that grew out of IOCU's efforts to regulate chemicals, baby formula, and pesticides during the 1970s. It was the brainchild of Malaysian activist Anwar Fazal, who served as IOCU director 1978-1984.

An off white flyer-style layout contrasts stark black text with a chaotic illustration of a halved globed resembling a cauldron filled with factories and other products labeled “Corporate Crime of the Century”.

IOCU. Consumer Interpol, 1982

A cartoon illustation of a child being surrounded by junk food, soda, chips, candy, all of which are pouring from a TV screen, visually capturing how advertising targets kids with unhealthy choices,

Consumers International, A spoonful of sugar, 1996

A clean newsletter page shows bold headings, columned text, a sidebar of contents, and a small photo of three smiling colleagues on a coffee break.

Consumer Reports. Currents, 2005

A sepia-toned photo of a protester holds a “CLOSED” sign against a bright yellow backdrop, The Global Factory title is written in bright red text.

American Friends Service Committee. The Global Factory, 1990

Cover of Consumers Africa with photo of local residences looking to camera from an open air produce market.

IOCU. Consumers in Africa: A growing voice, 1988

Black and white photo of Esther Peterson holding a globe.

The People

Esther Peterson

Peterson (1906-1997) was an educator, feminist, labor organizer, and consumer advocate. She served as Assistant Secretary of Labor under President John F. Kennedy and as a consumer affairs advisor for the administrations of Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter. As a consumer advocate, Peterson pushed for nutrition labels and “use by” dates for food products, and she served as a delegate of the International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU) to the United Nations. Her papers came to Duke as part of the Consumer Reports Archives. 

A black and white photo of Persia Campbell on the left being presented with both a key and certificate to the City of San Juan, Puerto Rico by a man to the right.

Persia Campbell receiving the key to the city of San Juan, Puerto Rico, 1956

Persia Campbell

Campbell (1898-1974) was an Australian-born economist, lawyer, and consumer rights advocate who served on the Consumers Union Board of Directors (1959-1974). Her papers came to Duke as part of the Consumer Reports Archives.

A black and white group photo of Rhoda Karpatkin (second from left) and othe members of the IOCU delegation such as Foo Gaik Sim, IOCU Asia-Pacific Regional Office, Consumers Association of Jamaica; Sally Hall, Consumers Association of Canada; Swarn Kohli, Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), India. 

IOCU delegation to the Consumers Union 50th anniversary event, 1986

Rhoda Karpatkin

Karpatkin (1930-2023, second from left) served as Executive Director of Consumers Union (1974-2001), and as president of the IOCU (1985-1991). Karpatkin’s papers are included in the Consumer Reports Archives. The photograph features members of the IOCU delegation to the anniversary event. From left: Foo Gaik Sim, IOCU Asia-Pacific Regional Office; Karpatkin; unidentified, Consumers Association of Jamaica; Sally Hall, Consumers Association of Canada; Swarn Kohli, Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), India. 

Black and white photo of Coleston E. Warne standing side by side with other members at the 1969 IOCU meeting in Korea.

IOCU meeting, Korea, 1969

Colston E. Warne (1900-1987, tall figure in center) was president of Consumers Union (1936-1980) and the first president of the IOCU (1960-1970). His papers are included in the Consumer Reports archives. 

Interntional representatives from around the world sit beneath a domed ceiling in an ornate hall, each desk labeled with a country name, forming a semi-circle around a central panel,

 IOCU meeting, Vienna, 1970

A black-and-white photo shows delegates seated around a long wooden table, microphones and papers spread before them, as they engage in focused discussion during the 1970 IOCU meeting in Vienna.

NGO briefing, World Congress 7, Stockholm, 1972

A male speaker stands and is speaking before a long panel table at the 1987 IOCU World Congress in Madrid, Rhoda Karpatkin in the background present at table.

IOCU meeting, Madrid, 1987

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