10b. Food Quality and Dietary Assessment Flashcards
During which stages of food production can it be exposed to pesticides?
Growing
Harvesting
Storage
What steps can we take to reduce surface chemicals on fruit and veg?
Wash in a 2% salt solution or in a white distilled vinegar/water solutions (10%/90%)
Let sit for 15-20 mins
Why is plastic packaging harmful?
Plastics allow leaching of chemicals into foods
e.g. BPA
What is BPA and other compounds examples of?
Xenoestrogens
chemicals that mimic oestrogen in the body
How do xenoestrogens work?
They bind to oestrogen receptors, disrupting normal function
What conditions have xenoestrogens been linked to?
Hormone related diseases
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Fertility problems
Which plastics are most known to cause health issues?
PET PVC DEHA Polystyrene Polycarbonates
Examples of items where plastics are present
Soft drink bottles Water bottles Clingfilm Cooking oil bottles Food trays Disposable cups Metal food tin liners
Practical ways to avoid plastics
Avoid plastic wrap/clingfilm
Never heat food in plastic
Never leave food or drinks in plastic containers in the sun
Examples of plastic packaging alternatives
Greaseproof paper Wax paper Beeswax wraps Soy wax wraps Glass or stainless steel containers
What is irradiation?
Use of high energy beams, X-rays or gamma rays to prolong shelf life of food
Categories of food that can be irradiated in the EU
Fruit/veg Cereals Tubers Dried herbs Spices Fish/shellfish Poultry
How must food that’s been irradiated be declared?
On label as ‘irradiated’ or ‘treated with ionising radiation’
Show the Radura symbol
Which carcinogenic compounds can be formed during irradiation?
Radiolytic products
Which toxic chemicals can be produced during irradiation?
Benzene
Formic acid
Formaldehyde
What can survive irradiation and become mutagenic?
Bacteria
Viruses
The vitamin content of irradiated foods can be reduced by what percentage?
2-95%
Which vitamins are most affected by irradiation?
B1
C
Benefits of irradiation
Extend shelf life
Allow for long-distance shipping
What are Dietary References Values?
Set of estimates for the amount of macro/micronutrients and energy needed by different groups of healthy people, doing average activity
What are DRVs not set for?
Highly active
Unhealthy individuals
How are DRVs grouped?
Girls/boys
Females
Males
What are the age grouping for girls/boys in DRVs?
0-3 months 4-6 months 7-9 months 10-12 months 1-3 years 4-6 years 7-10 years
What are the age grouping for males/females?
11-14 years 15-18 years 19-50 years 50+ years Pregnancy/breastfeeding