CURRENT ISSUES

Question 1

SUPPLY & AVAILABILITY of food:

Answer 1

• Post ww2 new foods became available because of investment in British farming & overseas trading
• Big supermarkets sell vast range of foods to meet out needs
• GLOBALISATION has occurred do to improvements in transport of PERISHABLES
• Consumers have swapped to weekly shopping rather than daily
• Food travels greater distances (FOOD MILES)

Question 2

What is FOOD SECURITY:

Answer 2

= When all people at all times have physical & economic access to SUFFICIENT/ SAFE/ NUTRITIOUS food to meet their DIETARY NEEDS & PREFERENCES for a healthy lifestyle

Question 3

What are the ISSUES LINKED to FOOD SECURITY?

Answer 3

AVAILABILITY 
= how much food is produced & the reliability of the supply 
ACCESS 
= distribution of food 
AFFORDABILITY 
= Being available at affordable prices

Question 4

How do these FOOD SECURITY ISSUES affect the UK?

Answer 4

• Many low income families cannot afford to eat healthily. They can’t afford cars to get to supermarkets. No healthy options nearby ( corner shops & takeaways )
  = food dessert
• Food harvest & climate change can affect supply chains
• We’re becoming too dependant on food from abroad which puts a strain on the overseas suppliers making us vulnerable to price increases & shortages

Question 5

PRICE of food:

Answer 5

• Affects the industry & consumers
• Increase in price affects the poorest the most
• SUGAR/ CEREALS/ MEAT are no longer taken for granted
• In 2008 prices of most CEREALS met record heights
• Over 900 million people were malnourished in 2008 worldwide

Question 6

HEALTH & NUTRITION of food:

Answer 6

• Diet related health problems cost the NHS 6 billion a year
• 70,000 deaths could be avoided if healthy guidelines were followed
• Since 2000 government has introduced initiatives to encourage healthy eating ( improving school meals/ restrictions on broadcasting/ clear labelling on foods )

Question 7

SAFETY & QUALITY of food:

Answer 7

Food safety is rigorously monitored in UK there are many organisations that are involved in ensuring our safety:

• FOOD STANDARDS AGENCY
• ENVIRONMENT, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS
• ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

Question 8

What is the FSA?

Answer 8

= Indépendant to any government dept so can monitor the safety & quality of food at a national level
- Aims to PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH & CONSUMER INTERESTS IN RELATION TO FOOD

Question 9

What is DEFRA?

Answer 9

= Monitors pesticide safety & animal health at national level
- Provides info of environmental impact of food quality
CONSUMERS ARE BECOMING MORE SENSITIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT & WANT TO BUY BETTER QUALITY FOOD

Question 10

What is ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH?

Answer 10

= Local EH depts monitor hygiene & safety in food businesses
- SCORES ON THE DOORS shows the food hygiene rating on the from too a business

Question 11

FOOD CHAIN & ENVIRONMENT:

Answer 11

• 18% of UK’s Greenhouse gases are because of food production
• GHG’s are an increased concern
• Climate change will make some food production even more challenging in many areas of the world
• Need t move toward sustainable food sources
• Consider the whole process FROM FARM 2 FORK

Question 12

What is the aim of SUSTAINABLE FOODS?

Answer 12

• Contribute to local economies & livelihoods
• Protect diversity of plants & animals & avoid damaging natural resources & contributing to Global warming
• Provide good quality, safe & healthy products

Question 13

What is ‘SUSTAIN’?

Answer 13

= Registered charity which promotes better farming practises & considers health & welfare of animals & consumers

Question 14

What are the 7 principals that SUSTAIN suggest?

Answer 14

• Buy LOCAL & SEASONAL
• Buy ORGANIC to minimise harm to the environment
• Reduce consumption of MEAT/ DAIRY/ EGGS as livestock are the biggest contributors to GHG’s
• Stop buying ‘AT RISK’ fish species
• Buy FAIR-TRADE
• Avoid BOTTLED WATER
• Ensure meals contain generous portions of FRUIT/ VEG/ STARCHY STAPLES & cut down on SALT/ FAT/ OILS/ ADDITIVES