Evaluation of performance in food marketing requires an examination of governmental and judicial agencies as well as a thorough delving of industrial secrets. A preliminary evaluation of performance suggests failure due to insufficient feedback of information to allow for adequate system anointer and control. Publications based on powers of search, subpoena, and seizure also suggest a history of inadequate performance and the weakness or absence of control variables. Since no ideal market institutions are known, and since we have reason to believe market performance is less than perfect, any absence of economic debate and controversy would signets the profession was relinquishing the field of market policy formulation to an economically unsophisticated judiciary and the aroused, if uninformed, housewives.