Food security

Question 1

What is food security?

Answer 1

• When people have access to enough nutritious food to stay healthy and active

Question 2

What are 3 aspects of food security?

Answer 2

• Availability: whether there is sufficient food
• Access: whether it’s affordable, and whether it can be reached
• Utilisation: whether the food is being used as part of a varied diet

Question 3

How does Fairtrade affect food producers and workers?

Answer 3

• Fairtrade requires companies to pay farmers in less developed countries sustainable prices for their products
• They also work to improve working conditions
• They encourage sustainable food production
• By ensuring farmers receive more money, this increases their food security

Question 4

List 3 reasons why some people are against GM crops.

Answer 4

• Their long-term safety is not known
• Environmental concerns (the modified genes could spread and cause issues)
• The ethics around labelling; under 1% of GM food does not have to be labelled on a product, and if animals are fed GM crops, this does not have to be shown on animal products

Question 5

What are the 2 main reasons why food is wasted?

Answer 5

• Too much food is prepared and cooked
• Food is not used in time

Question 6

Which foods tend to be wasted the most?

Answer 6

• Fresh vegetables
• Salad
• Drink
• Fresh fruit
• Bakery items

Question 7

Why is food waste an environmental issue?

Answer 7

• It ends up in landfill sites
• The food rots and releases greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide

Question 8

What is the carbon footprint of a product?

Answer 8

• The amount of carbon emissions produced in the growing, processing, production and disposal of a food
• A large part of this is the product’s food miles; the distance it travels from farm to plate

Question 9

List 7 ways to reduce the carbon footprint of a product.

Answer 9

• Buy fresh local produce
• Cook fresh meals
• Use ingredients in season in the UK
• Reduce meat consumption
• Use methods of cooking that require less energy
• Carbon offsetting: planting trees to absorb carbon dioxide
• Use less packaging

Question 10

List 6 things that should be considered when thinking about food sustainability.

Answer 10

• Where the food came from
• If it was a Fairtrade product
• If it was produced organically or sustainably
• How much energy was used in its production
• If a sustainable source of energy used
• What impact the product has had on the environment