The Food Industry as a Threat to Public Health and Food Safety

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In their article, M. Joseph and M. Nestle discuss how the modern food industry has created political and economic conflicts about the distribution and consumption of food. The authors clearly demonstrated how the interests of those who benefit from these conflicts outweigh the principles of equal access to safe food around the world (Joseph and Nestle 88). In my opinion, the article raises a very important issue because the inequality of food distribution is one the biggest global challenges. For example, while many countries in the Western world face such problems as obesity African countries starve. The reason behind this inequality is that governments and food corporations put their political interests and economic profits first. The important conclusion that I made from the article is that if the injustice of food distribution is human-made it is in our hands to change the situation. Similarly, to the first article, the authors of the second one, D. Stuckler, and M. Nestle examine the problem of food safety, but the main difference is that they focus on the practical aspect of the issue. They discuss various approaches that public health advocates might undertake in dealing with the irresponsibility of the food industry. The authors suggest the regulation and monitoring of the food industry by health experts (Stuckler and Nestle 2). I agree with this suggestion because corporations will never prioritize public health and safety over their profits and growth. In the third article, M. Nestle talks about the scientific aspect of the problem and particularly about the conflict of interests that inevitably occurs when the food industry sponsors scientific research on food safety (Nestle para.2). I agree with the author in her conclusion that sponsored researches jeopardize the concept of scientific integrity. The three articles raise the same question, however, they focus on the different aspects of the issue: political, economic, and scientific.

When talking about food safety, especially in the context of The United States, the first thing that comes to mind is obesity. There are many debates on the causes of obesity. In my opinion, the three articles are very helpful for a better understanding of this issue. Obesity is mostly a result of irresponsible actions of food corporations, which put their benefits before public health. It is important to compel the food industry to be responsible and not pose a threat to public prosperity.

The article by J. Spink and D.C. Moyer examines food fraud. Food fraud is an adulteration of food products for the sake of profit and it presents a dangerous threat to public health (Spink and Moyer 157). It is a scholarly article posted in the Journal of Food Science and, therefore, is a reliable source.

The author of the second article I chose talks about the efficiency of self-regulation measures, which food companies undertake to avoid a possible threat to public health and safety. This article gives a different perspective on the issue because unlike the previous ones, it implies that companies can voluntarily regulate their businesses for the benefits of public health (Sharma, Teret, and Brownell para.1).

Quiz related to the assigned readings:

What is the proportion of the food sales that the ten largest food corporations control globally?

15% * (Stuckler and Nestle para.2);
60 %;
3%;

Quiz related to the selected articles:

Which organic compound is often used as a food adulterant?

Methylamine;
Melamine * (Spink and Moyer 158);
Histidine;

Which agency does investigate food frauds?

FDA;
USDA;
FDA and USDA* (Spink and Douglas para.1);

Since when is the food industry in a self-regulatory mode?

2006 * (Sharma, Teret, and Brownell para.4);
1999;

How much did the food industry spend on food marketing in 2007?

9.6 billion dollars* (Sharma, Teret, and Brownell para.1);
10 million dollars;

References

Joseph, Maya, and Marion Nestle. “Food and Politics in the Modern Age: 1920–2012.” Food Politics, n.d. Web.

Nestle, Marion. “Conflict of Interest in the regulation of food safety a threat to scientific integrity.” Food Politics, 2011. Web.

Sharma, Lisa, Stephen P. Teret, and Kelly D. Brownell. “The Food Industry and Self-Regulation: Standards to Promote Success and to Avoid Public Health Failures.” Am J Public Health 100.2 (2010): 240-246. Web.

Spink, John, and Douglas C. Moyer. “Defining the Public Health Threat of Food Fraud.” Journal of Food Science 76.9 (2011): 167-163. Web.

Stuckler, David, and Marion Nestle. “Big Food, Food Systems, and Global Health.” PLOS Medicine 9.6 (2012): n. pag. Web. 2015.

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The Food Industry as a Threat to Public Health and Food Safety

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