The Food Supply Chapter 3 2 Health Consequences of Food Insecurity Physical and mental activity declines Growth slows or ceases Muscle and fat wasting Immune system weakens Increased disease susceptibility Death 3 4 Food Insecurity in the U.S. 15% of households are food insecure Closely linked to poverty 13% live at or below the poverty 1/3 are children Ethnic groups 5 6 Programs to Increase Food Security in U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Food Stamp program in some states Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) National School Lunch Program School Breakfast Program Child and Adult Care Food Program Programs for seniors, food distribution programs, private programs 7 Organic Foods Allowed: Biological pest management Composting Manure applications Crop rotations Not allowed: Synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and hormones Antibiotics Sewage sludge Genetic engineering Irradiation 8 Biotechnology Recombinant DNA technology Genetically modified (GM) foods Common crops Cloned animals (currently not approved for consumption) Uses Pest and weed control Disease prevention in plants Increased crop yields Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) Future possibilities Increased nutrient density (golden rice) Pharmaceutical production 9 10 Regulation of GM foods FDA Safe for humans and animals to consume USDA Crops are safe to grow EPA Pesticides introduced into foods are safe for consumption and the environment Prompted by increasing concerns over the use of untested chemicals as food preservatives, Harvey Wiley, M.D., chief chemist of the Agriculture Department's Bureau of Chemistry, set out to investigate whether such preservatives should be used in food and which quantities were safe. Congress appropriated funds for the studies in Wiley recruited volunteers, which the press soon dubbed the Poison Squad. The young men ate foods containing measured amounts of borax, salicylic acid, formaldehyde, and other chemical preservatives. He stopped each unconventional experiment after many of his volunteers became sick. According to anecdotal reports, none of the men was permanently harmed. In the end, Wiley advocated that chemical preservatives should be used in food only when necessary, that the onus of safety should be on the producer of foods, and that consumers should be informed about ingredients on food labels--the basic elements of current food laws and regulations. 11 Many inferior food products were marketed under so called distinctive names before passage of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of These products were heavily advertised, and were of low quality. 12 Safety Concerns of GM Foods Allergens Unintended gene flow Development of Bt resistant insects Loss of genetic diversity Insufficient regulation and oversight Other unknowns 13 Food Preservation and Processing Food irradiation Radiant energy to extend shelf life and control growth of pathogens Food additives Intentional vs. incidental Synthetic vs. natural 14 Uses of Food Additives Improve freshness and safety Enhance or maintain nutritional value Enhance or maintain color and flavor Contribute to functional characteristics Examples: texture, acidity 15 Regulation and Safety of Food Additives Prior-sanctioned substances Sodium and potassium nitrates GRAS list (generally recognized as safe) Vanilla, salt, sugar.. Review can lead to deletion of additives on list Food Additive Safety Tests in animals for FDA approval Sucralose Stevia 16 17 Water Safety Public water regulated by the EPA Bottled water regulated by the FDA Threats to water safety Agricultural runoff Inappropriate disposal of chemicals and municipal solid waste Inadequate treatment of human wastes Pollution from boats/ships 18 Lead and Dioxins Lead Toxic, used in paint prior to 1986 Herbal remedies and mineral supplements, some imported canned goods, and painted toys Iron deficiency increases lead absorption Dioxins Byproducts of industrial processes Accumulate in animal fat and fish Cause liver and nerve damage EPA restricts use of fish from certain waterways 19 Mercury and PCBs Mercury At risk: children, pregnancy and lactation Avoid and limit certain types of fish Controversial, because good source of omega 3 fatty acids PCBs Were used in industrial processes Residue on primarily freshwater fish from contaminated waterways 20 Pesticide Regulation and Exposure EPA, FDA and USDA all regulate pesticides Pesticide tolerance Minimizing exposure Infants and children most susceptible Washing and peeling all produce Trimming away fat on meats Certified organic foods May still contain some residual pesticide 21 Antibiotics Used to promote growth in animals and prevent/treat disease Concern with antibiotic resistant bacteria Not used on organically produced animalssurprise-organic-apples-and-pears-arent-free-of- antibiotics/http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/npr- surprise-organic-apples-and-pears-arent-free-of- antibiotics/