Food Provenance Flashcards
What are two of the ways crops can be grown?
Intensively
Organically
What methods are used in intensive farming and why?
Large mechanical equipment-used to save time and cut down on production costs
Artificial (chemical) fertilisers-supplies nutrients for crops to grow
Pesticides-protects crops and controls pests
What are some concerns about intensive farming?
They can harm wildlife, damage the environment (eg by polluting rivers), and some think they have a harmful effect on human health too
What methods are used in organic farming?
Farmers add manure and compost instead of artificial fertilisers
Crop rotation-growing crops then leaving land fallow to make sure soil is fertile every year
Introducing pests natural predators
Biological pesticides
Spraying crops with hot water
What are the advantages with organic farming?
It reduces the amount of chemical pesticides going onto the land, so it’s less harmful to the environment
Fewer non renewable resources are used than in intensive farming, so it is more sustainable
It appeals to consumers who are concerned about the use of artificial chemicals and their damage to the environment
What are the disadvantages with organic farming?
Organic farming tends to produce a lower yield
There are higher production costs, which means higher prices in supermarkets
What is a genetically modified food?
A genetically modified food is one that has had its genes altered to give it useful characteristics, such as improving its growth or changing its colour
What are the advantages with genetically modified foods?
Crops can be made to grow quicker
Producers can get higher yields of crops for the same amount of seed and fertiliser
This makes food cheaper to produce so it’s also cheaper for the consumer to buy
Crops can be altered to have a longer shelf life and this means less food is wasted
Crops can be made to ripen earlier than normal, so fresh foods can be available for consumers early in the year
Crops can be modified to contain extra nutrients which can improve in nutrition in poor countries. For example golden rice has been genetically modified to contain carotene which provides vitamin A
What are the disadvantages with genetically modified foods?
GM foods haven’t been around for long so their long term health effects aren’t known
There are concerns that modify genes could get out into the wider environment and cause problems
GM producers can’t sell their food everywhere-the European Union restricts the import of some GM foods
What are some of the restrictions with GM foods in the European Union?
All GM foods must undergo strict safety assessments and can only be sold if no health risks have been identified
All foods that are GM or contain more than 1% GM ingredients must be clearly labelled
However, meat and dairy products from animals fed on GM feed are not labelled
What are some of the advantages with factory farmed animals?
Animals may be kept inside in warm sheds, so they don’t waste much energy moving or keeping themselves warm.
That means that more of their energy goes into producing meat or eggs for food and this maximises food production
Factory farm food is generally cheaper than free range
What are the disadvantages with factory farm animals?
People are becoming more concerned that intensively reared animals don’t live very nice lives and this means they are more likely to suffer from nasty diseases, they behave less naturally and can be killed at a young age
Some people believe that meat from factory farmed animals doesn’t taste as nice as meat from free range animals
What are the advantages with free range animals?
Free range food comes from animals that have more space to live than factory farmed animals and this means they usually have nicer lives because of the higher standard of welfare
What are the disadvantages with free range animals?
Less food can be produced by rearing animals in free range conditions. They use up energy moving around, so they take longer to grow.
The extra large needed also adds to the cost. Business products more expensive and they might be beyond some peoples budgets
What is the Red Tractor symbol?
The Red Tractor symbol can be found on any UK meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables and cereal products- to use the logo, producers have to meet standards on food safety, welfare, traceability and environmental protection
What is the RSPCA assured symbol?
The symbol can be found on eggs, dairy, fish and meat-to get the logo, producers have to follow strict RSPCA welfare standards. These standards are higher than legal requirements
What is trawling?
It is a very common method of fishing
Trawlers are fishing boats that catch fish using nets and large trawlers may process fish on board
There are different methods-some drag a net through the open sea, and others along the surface of the sea bed
Dredging is like bottom trawling but use a metal basket instead of a net
What is fish farming?
Large numbers of fish are raised in tanks or enclosures in rivers and lakes or in cages in the sea
As with factory farmed land animals, there is overcrowding and this means the fish are more likely to suffer from diseases
What is an alternative fishing method?
Long line fishing use a fishing line with baited hooks secured between 2 buoys
Fewer fish are caught and there’s less chance of catching unwanted fish.
What are fishing quotas?
Quotas are set by governments to help endangered species of fish. They limit the amount and size of fish that can be caught
What are some methods to conserve fish stocks and make them more sustainable?
Alternative fishing methods
Fishing quotas
Regulating net size
What are some reasons for wasting food at home?
Food has spoiled
Confusion over best before dates and other date marks
Too much food was cooked, an edible leftovers out frozen or reused
Preparing food incorrectly-for example, peeling vegetables too thickly
What are some reasons for producers and retailers wasting food?
Retailers will reject food from producers if it is damaged or spoiled during transport
Imperfect food is often rejected by retailers too and the producer cannot sell it so it gets wasted
To avoid running out of stock and disappointing their customers, supermarkets stock more than they can sell. The unsold stock gets binned, including stuff that is still safe to eat, like bread
Offers from supermarkets encourage people to buy more than they can use or store
Larger packs of food are better value for money but again, it’s more than people need
What are five ways we can reduce waste?
Correctly store food and pay attention to use by dates
Use up the contents of your fridge before buying more food
Use leftovers in meals a day after or freeze them for another time
Use the whole food. For example, bones can be used for stocks and peelings can be made into compost
Donate unwanted food to food banks
What are some materials we use to package food?
Plastic-transparent, lightweight and can be shaped to the food
Glass-transparent, heat-resistant, gives food a long shelf life and is reusable
Metal-heat-resistant and gives food a long shelf-life
Paper- lightweight, can be printed on and is biodegradable
How does suitable packaging reduce food waste?
Protects food from being damaged while it’s being transported, displayed and stored
Preserves the food and stops contamination from bacteria or pests
What does basic processing of fruit and vegetables consist of?
Pits (stones) are removed fruit e.g peaches and cherries
Fruits are squeezed for fruit juices or dried e.g grapes are sundried to make raisins
Fruits and vegetables are washed with water to remove dirt, insects and chemical sprays
Fruits and vegetables are sorted into different sizes and shapes and may be peeled
What are basic processing of meat/poultry?
Some meats (e.g beef) are hung at 4°C and dried to make them more tender and improve flavour
Feathers and internal organs of poultry are removed
The wings and legs of poultry are tied (trussed) so it cooks evenly
Meat is chopped, sliced or cut
Mnemonic for flour
Gross harry reads too many comics and cooking guides because she realised dogs talk
Primary processing of wheat
In the UK, wheat is planted in September and is grown for 11 months
In the UK, wheat is harvested in the following August
Grains are removed from the plant
The harvested wheat grains are transported to the mill
The wheat grains are cleaned and conditioned
The wheat is blended with other types of wheat-the process is called gristing
The wheat grains are milled-a series of heavy rollers breaks down the grains. This is called breaking
The fragments of wheat grain are sieving and reductions
The bran, wheatgerm and endosperm are separated out. They can be blended to make different types of flour
The different flours are packaged and transported to the bakeries
Definition of primary food processing
Primary processing is the preparation of raw foods so they’re either ready to be eaten or cooked immediately
What are the different types of flour?
Wholemeal flour-100% of the grain is used, nothing is taken out
Wheatmeal (Brown) flour- about 85% of the grain is used, so some of the bran and germ are removed
White flour- about 70% of the grain is used (only the endosperm is used)
Why is milk heat treated?
To destroy pathogenic bacteria
What processes kill bacteria in milk?
Pasteurisation
Ultra Heat Treatment (UHT)
Sterilisation
Microfiltration
What is pasteurisation?
Milk is heated quickly to 72°C for 15 seconds and then rapidly cooled to 4°C
There is little change in the taste and nutritional content of pasteurised milk
What is Ultra Heat Treatment?
Milk is heated to at least 135°C for 1-4 seconds and packed in a sterile container - the milk can last at an ambient temperature temperature for several months
UHT milk has slightly less nutritional value and a slightly different taste than pasteurised milk
What is sterilisation?
Bottled raw milk goes through a steam chamber at 110°C for 10-30 minutes.
All bacteria is killed, so it tastes different and many B group vitamins and Vitamin C are lost
What is microfiltration?
Bacteria that turn milk sour remain after pasteurisation
Microfiltration forces milk through a membrane which separates the milk from the souring bacteria
This extends the shelf life of the milk and doesn’t have much effect on the flavour or nutritional content
Definition of secondary processing
When a food that has undergone primary processing is changed into an ingredient that is then transformed into a food product
What is organic flour and what are the conditions needed for organic flour?
Organic flours are made from wheat grown and processed naturally without the use of chemicals
The soil association is an official body that approves the use of the term ‘organic’
Farmers + producers must meet the organic certification standards to be able to claim that their product is genuine
Why is food processed?
Make it safe to eat for the consumer
Preserve it and slow down spoilage
Maintain its consistency
Add variety to the diet
Make it available out of season
What are the primary processes for majority of foods?
Sorting
Cleaning
Cooking
Preserving
Packing
Transporting
What are the primary processes for vegetables and herbs?
Sorting
Trimming
Removing damaged produce
Washing
Wrapping
How is flour turned into pasta?
Pasta is made with a mixture (or eggs) and semolina flour
The ingredients form a dough which is kneaded until it is smooth
Colourings can be added to dye the pasta
Spinach makes it green, beetroot makes it purple and carrot makes an orange pasta
The dough is then shaped and forced through a laminator and then shaped and cut
Pasta can be sold fresh or dried. Dried pasta has a much longer shelf life
How is bread produced?
Sieving and checking the flour
Mixing and kneading
Dividing
First rising
Knocking back
Proving
Baking
Cooling
Slicing
How is fruit turned into jam?
Jam is a type of fruit preserve and it is made with crushed fruit, sugar and pectin
Pectin is a gelling substance found in fruit-when boiled to at least 105°C with the sugar and acid of the fruit, pectin causes the jam to thicken and set as it cools
The sugar draws water out of the fruit, so it’s difficult for microorganisms to grow
Jam is poured into glass jars which are sealed to further extend the shelf life
how can packaging be bad for the environment?
Manufacturing the materials for packaging uses lots of energy and natural resources
Packaging often gets used once, thrown away and then just takes up space in landfill sites
Some packaging, like plastics, take a long time to biodegrade and could take up space in line for for years
Packaging adds to the weight of a product, so heavier materials such as metals and glass, require more energy to transport them
Litter is hazardous to animals too for example marine life can get entangled in plastics or eat it by mistake
How can you reduce the environmental impact of packaging?
Recycling uses much less energy than manufacturing new packaging
Most plastics can be recycled too
By products of little or no packaging and refuse ones with excess packaging
Choose products with biodegradable packaging or packaging made from recycled materials
Carry food and reusable shopping bags to reduce the need for plastic bags
What are food miles? seasonal food is not available all y….ies are only available in the summer
Food miles are the distance food travels from where it is produced to the consumer
Why are lots of food miles bad for the environment?
Planes, ships and trucks all burn scarce fossil fuels and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming
Why is it better to buy food from local markets?
Local food is often better for the environment as it has fewer food miles.
Local food is often fresher and tastier because it reaches you soon after it has been harvested.
Buying from farmers markets and independent greengrocers supports the local businesses and their produce can be cheap.
What are the disadvantages from buying food locally?
Seasonal food is not available all year round, for example strawberries are only available in the summer, so you have a smaller selection of products.
Unpackaged and unpreserved food spoil faster meaning you have to use them quickly.
What does your carbon footprint measure?
It measures the impact your lifestyle has on the environment.
It is given as the amount of greenhouse gases you directly and indirectly produced from burning fossil fuels for heat, electricity, transport.
How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
Buy food that is in season, with lower food miles and with less packaging.
Use public transport, walk or take up cycling.
Waste less energy in the home by turning TVs off standby or turning the heating down
How does food production contribute to climate change?
Processing, transporting and wasting food all lead to the production of greenhouse gases.
These greenhouse gases are building up in the atmosphere.
Heat is ‘trapped’ and this means that less heat can escape into space.
This effect is what is causing global warming. The earth is slowly getting hotter.
Rising temperatures are changing our climate, causing more and more extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes to occur
Changes in the temperature and weather are affecting the crops and food that we rely on
How does an increase in average global temperature affect the production of crops?
Many crops will have lower yields
Pests and microorganisms can reproduce more easily and can invade new regions that were too cold for them before
How can a drought affect the production of crops?
A drought happens in an area that has had a lack of rainfall
Crops struggle to grow or fail completely
Rivers and lakes can dry up, of killing fish and other wildlife
Droughts can cause wildfires which are uncontrolled global fires spread through the countryside, destroying field and reared animals
How can flooding affect the production of crops?
Severe rainfall, cyclones etc. can cause major flooding.
Floods directly damage and destroy crops
Soil and nutrients useful for crop growth are washed away
Sewage can pollute fields and spread disease in animals
Reared animals may drown
What is food Security?
People have food security when they have access to enough nutritious food to stay healthy and active
What factors affect how much food is available?
Climate
Insufficient land
Growing industrial crops
Wealth
Rising population
How does climate affect food Security?
Some countries have climates that are unsuitable for farming. Extreme weather events, such as floods or droughts, can also affect the food supply
How does insufficient land affect food security?
People living in poverty often don’t have their own land to grow food
How does growing industrial crops affect food security?
More farmland that previously grew crops for food is now being used to grow non food crops such as crops for bio-fuels
How does wealth affect food security?
Wealthier people have more disposable income to spend on food, often more than they need.
People have lower incomes may not be able to afford nutritious food
How does rising population affect food security?
With more people there could be less food available for each person
How can we increase food supplies?
Using new technologies for example GM crops can be given pest resistance, higher nutritional values and higher yields
Eating less meat stop animals that are red for their meat or fed crops that we grow. It’s more efficient if we directly eat these crops instead
Reducing food waste. If less food is wasted, more is available to eat
What is the fair trade foundation?
The fair trade foundation was established to support farmers and workers in less developed countries and encourage sustainable food production
Roy ingredients such as tea leaves and coffee beans are used in expensive products but the farmers often receive very little money for their produce
Fair trade aims to make it fair for these smaller businesses by making sure they get a decent price and by improving working conditions
The farmers themselves become more food secure and they have more money to spend on that food for themselves and their families
How is milk turned into cheese?
Raw milk is pasteurised to kill pathogenic bacteria
Non-pathogenic bacteria is introduced to sour and thicken the milk
A starter culture is added for 30 minutes at 32°C. This is called ripening and the lactose turns into lactic acid
Rennet is added. The rennet cause the milk to coagulate and it separates into curds and whey. This takes about 30 minutes
Heat helps curds to separate from whey. Soft cheese is made at lower temperatures than hard cheese
The whey is drained away to leave a curd mat
The curd mats are then cheddared to remove more whey and help develop texture
Salt is added for flavour and texture and preserve
The cheese is pressed into moulds and pressed to remove more whey
The cheese is left to ripen and mature. Moulds and bacteria can be added
Cheese is packed ready for sale
What is fortification and why is it done?
Fortification is where nutrients are added to a food
It improves the nutritional value of foods
fortification is done for different reasons. Sometimes it’s to replace nutrients lost during processing, or to add extra nutrients to make it healthier
How is white flour fortified?
Iron, vitamin B1 (Thiamin), vitamin B3 (Niacin) and calcium are lost during the production of white flower
By law, these nutrients have to be added back in. They aren’t added to wholemeal flour because the nutrients are naturally present
How are breakfast cereals fortified?
Cereals can be fortified with iron, thiamin and folic acid
Cereal is eaten by lots of people. If manufacturers choose to fortify their products it helps a population get the recommended amounts of these nutrients
How are butter alternatives fortified?
Many people use butter alternatives like margarines and low fat spreads
Butter naturally contains vitamins A&D and so by fortifying butter alternatives, consumers don’t miss out on these important vitamins
Margarines and low fat spreads are usually fortified on a voluntary basis by manufacturers.
Give two EU regulations for GM crops
GM foods have to pass strict safety tests before they can be sold
Foods that contain GM ingredients (more than 1%) have to be clearly labelled
How is milk processed into yoghurt
Milk is pasteurised and homogenised then heated to 42°C
Then whilst the milk is warm, the starter culture a non-pathogenic bacteria is added
The bacteria then ferments the sugar lactose, into Lactic Acid
The milk is kept at 42°C for hours to ferment. The lactic acid then causes the milks pH level to drop, and the milk solidifies
The yoghurt is cooled 7°C
Now it can be packaged and sold as it is. Or flavours can be added then it can be packaged and sold
Yoghurt is stored and transported at below 5°C
How are cholesterol lowering spreads fortified?
Some vegetable fat spreads have added plant sterols
These substances help reduce cholesterol for people with high cholesterol only-they don’t benefit people with normal cholesterol levels
What are multivitamin supplements?
Multivitamin supplements are full of vitamins and minerals your body needs
They should never replace a healthy, balanced diet
They are more useful for certain people like elderly and pregnant women
However, it’s debatable whether they make any difference for most people and taking too many could be harmful to your health
What is an additive?
An additive is something that’s added to food to improve its properties
Some occur naturally and some are made artifically
What are preservatives?
Preservatives are additives that prevent bacteria from growing-so food lasts longer
Natural preservatives include vinegar, lemon juice, salt and sugar
Artificial preservatives include things like nitrates and sulphites
What are colourings?
Colourings make food look more attractive and more appealing to eat
Carmel is a natural food colouring-it can make products darkish brown eg cola
Tartrazine is an artificial colouring-it’s used to make products a yellow colour eg custard powder
What are flavourings?
Flavourings improve the taste or aroma of a product
Natural flavourings include herbs and spices eg basil, chillies and vanilla
Artificial sweeteners eg. aspartame, are used as substitutes for sugar
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) enhances flavours of foods it is used in-gives it a savoury taste
What are emulsifiers and stabilisers?
Emulsifiers and stabilisers help to preserve the shape and texture of food products
Emulsifiers help mix together ingredients that don’t usually mix.
Stabilisers stop mixed ingredients from separating
Lecithin is a natural emulsifier found in eggs yolks and soya beans
Pectin is a natural stabiliser found in berries, apples and many other fruits
What are some disadvantages of additives?
Can cause allergic reactions and worsen asthma
Some natural additives, are bad for health in large amounts (salt, sugar)
Can disguise poor quality ingredients
Additives must pass a safety test before they can be used in food
Can cause long-term health effects (eg some food colourings can cause hyperactive behaviour in children)
How can food procution be sustainable?
Enable the rowers and farmers to earn a living wage
Protect plant and animal diversity
Protect the welfare of plants and animals and the environment
Give social benefits and provide strong communities to everyone
Avoid producing greenhouse gases (food miles)
Reduce food waste and food packaging
