Consumer Views on Health Issues Arising from Food Products
Megh R. Goyal, Preeti Birwal, Santosh K. Mishra in Phytochemicals and Medicinal Plants in Food Design, 2022
Consumer forms the prime factor of a concern for the food manufacturer. The entire food processing by a manufacturer is done with regards to end result of consumer satisfaction. Just as food safety is a matter of concern for a consumer, vis-à-vis consumer satisfaction is a matter of concern for a food manufacturer [68]. Food nutritional factors, food contamination, food sources, food processing mechanism, food preservation, resultant impact, etc. are some of the critical points of concern for food consumer [78]. Appropriate food labeling comprising of contents like calorie count, food additives added (concentration, quality, suitability), sources, manufacturing details, storage information can help to provide maximum information to consumers [57]. However, the information invariably is not enough to satisfy the inquisitive mindset of consumers toward food safety and the associated health effects.
Avoiding Risky Substances and Environmental Exposures
Michelle Tollefson, Nancy Eriksen, Neha Pathak in Improving Women's Health Across the Lifespan, 2021
Hazardous exposures in soil have the potential to become hazardous in the food supply, leaving populations at risk for ingesting toxic substances. Contaminants in soil include metals like lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc. Sources of metal contamination can originate from industrial activity or can derive naturally. Food insecurity also threatens health. Food insecurity reflects the lack of access to healthy nutrients or over-consuming non-nutritious food. Therefore, underweight, overweight, and obese populations could all represent malnutrition. Communities in food deserts lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and may, conversely, have an abundance of fast food and convenience foods, leaving the population with few healthy options. However, having access to healthy food is essential because healthier diets can reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Contaminated food and malnutrition can harm health across the lifespan of women.
From Designer Food Formulation to Oxidative Stress Mitigation: Health-Boosting Constituents of Cabbage
Megh R. Goyal, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Ramasamy Harikrishnan in The Role of Phytoconstitutents in Health Care, 2020
Food is a mixture of nutrients, phytochemicals, and fiber; however, their health-promoting ability depends on content, activity, and bioavailability of these ingredients that are altered based on processing history. This aspect is of great consideration, as in Pakistan only small proportions of vegetables are consumed in their raw state, whereas most of them are often processed. Processing and preservation procedures are responsible for the improvement or depletion of health-promoting antioxidant vitamins and polyphenols. However, blanching treatment retains the original antioxidant profile in most of the cases. Other operations, including peeling and slicing contribute to enzymatic oxidation leading to a modification of inherent antioxidants or decrement of their antioxidant activity.
Food Insecurity: A Barrier to Reproductive Justice Globally
Published in International Journal of Sexual Health, 2023
Jasmine Fledderjohann, Sophie Patterson, Maureen Owino
Food insecurity is a situation in which people face difficulties accessing enough safe and nutritious food to support a healthy life (FAO et al., 2021). Key thinkers in the field of reproductive justice have listed food insecurity as one of many systemic social problems limiting the reproductive options available to marginalized people (Murray, 2021; Ross, 2017). However, the specific pathways through which food insecurity limits reproductive justice have not yet been detailed. We build on scholarship from reproductive justice activists, Black intersectional feminists, social scientists, and public health researchers to conceptualize food insecurity as a significant barrier to the realization of rights articulated in the reproductive justice framework. In the following sections, we briefly describe the reproductive justice framework and provide an overview of food insecurity as both a social problem and social determinant of overall health, including sexual health. We then outline in detail the myriad ways in which food insecurity threatens reproductive justice, and sexual and reproductive health more broadly. Because both food insecurity and reproductive justice are social justice issues affecting communities around the world, rather than focusing on one country or geographic region, we identify theoretical pathways with broad applicability across a range of contexts.
Nutrition knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and practices: a comparison of urban and rural adults in the Free State province of South Africa
Published in South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2023
Wasiuddin Najam, Corinna Walsh, Wilna Oldewage-Theron
Food plays an essential role in health and well-being. ‘A healthy diet is health-promoting and disease-preventing. It provides adequacy without excess, of nutrients and health-promoting substances from nutritious foods and avoids the consumption of health-harming substances’, according to the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021.1 Therefore, healthy dietary behaviour decreases the chances of developing chronic diseases, while unhealthy eating behaviours have harmful effects and can increase the risk of developing chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.2 Multiple elements affect people’s food choices, such as sensory, environmental, personal, sociocultural and cognitive factors; among cognitive factors, people’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs have an impact on the food they choose to eat.3
Understanding Occupations of Terminally Ill Chinese Adults and Their Caregivers: A Scoping Review
Published in Occupational Therapy In Health Care, 2023
Geck Hoon Lim, Lauren J. Breen, Sharon Keesing, Angus Buchanan
Food was mentioned in eight studies (Angelo & Wilson, 2014; Chio et al., 2008; Ho et al., 2013; Hsuan, 2009; Juang & Chang, 2004; Lin & Chao, 1997; Mok et al., 2003; Yeung et al., 1999). Certain types of food (e.g., soups, herbs, chicken) were considered nutritious and caregivers often reported spending time to prepare such food (Angelo & Wilson, 2014; Mok et al., 2003). Other types of food were considered unhealthy (e.g., fatty food) and caregivers may try to restrict the intake of such food (Ho et al., 2013). This may potentially become an area of conflict between caregivers and care recipient (Ho et al., 2013). The act of preparing, bringing food to the care recipient and feeding them (where necessary) was an act of commitment and love, and for some caregivers and care recipients, represented the hope of the care recipient getting stronger (Angelo & Wilson, 2014; Lin & Chao, 1997; Mok et al., 2003). Care-recipients, on the other hand, often struggled with poor appetite and nausea (Hsuan, 2009; Juang & Chang, 2004; Lin & Chao, 1997). However, they still chose to consume food out of obligation and appreciation of their family’s efforts (Chio et al., 2008).