The Facts Behind The Issues Flashcards
What are fast foods?
Food that is prepared quickly and packaged so that it’s portable enough to either eat on premises or take away to eat elsewhere.
Fast food: Potential positive impact on health
Contributes to 3 meals a day eating pattern instead of grazing and snacking
Fast food: Potential negative impact on health
Lack NSP (constipation and bowel disorders risk)
High in salt (HBP risk)
Energy dense (obesity{mental health} + consequently CHD, type 2, some cancers)
Lack f+v, lack antioxidant vitamins
Can develop poor eating habits
Vit C limited supply (iron deficiency anaemia)
Fast food: Potential positive impact on lifestyle
No prep/washing up time so time for other things
Able to socialise with friends at fast food outlet
No cooking equipment needed - useful in limited accommodation eg student housing
Widely available (some open 24 hrs)
Wide range of dishes
No skill needed (convenient)
Fast food: Potential negative impact on lifestyle
Expensive (if eaten frequently may impact family budget)
Impact packaging has on environment- could encourage disregard for environment
No skill needed (cookery skills lost from 1 generation to next)
What are convenience foods?
Processed foods that are particularly prepared already and require minimal prep skills to use
Convenience foods: Potential positive impact on health
Frozen veg has more vitamin C than fresh
Bagged salad ingredients and stir fry veg are a quick and easy way to add nutritional value to a meal
Convenience foods: Potential negative impact on health
Some high in salt/sugar/total fat/sat fat
Ready meals are low in fruit and veg
NSP can be lost during processing eg tinned fruit
During processing eg canning, vitamin C can be lost
Some are highly processed and have additives to improve colour, texture etc - some children may be allergic to these
Convenience foods: Potential positive impact on lifestyle
Can also be cheaper
Less washing up / prep time
In many cases, convenience foods make excellent use of tech eg frozen peas that have been picked and frozen in 1 day are as fresh and healthy to eat as if you had just picked them yourself
Convenience foods: Potential negative impact on lifestyle
Can be expensive - impact on family budget
Reduced skill levels
Types of convenience foods
Canned food Cartons Cook->chill food Dried food Frozen food Jars Ready-to-eat food Value-added side dishes
What are nano foods?
Came into being when developments in technology made it possible to manipulate the molecules in food in order to improve its sensory appeal, shelf life and health benefits eg formulation of product with taste and texture of mayo but without the calories
Are in the developmental stage and are not available for sale
Nano foods: Potential positive impact of health
Wide potential to change the nutritional value of foods in order to improve health
Used in food processing to limit loss of nutrients during processing
Can create lower fat foods and those with less salts
Nano foods: Potential negative impact on health
Don’t know the long term health risks
Scientists still trying to determine whether size affects their toxicity
Nano foods: Potential positive impact on lifestyle
Fewer shopping trips if shelf life is extended
Reduction in waste
Nano foods: Potential negative impact on lifestyle
Don’t know impact on environment
What are superfoods?
(Currently no legal definition) promoted by the media, supermarkets, food producers and food companies as providing large proportions of important nutrients and offering extra protection against disease
Examples of superfoods
Fruit (blueberries)
Veg (broccoli)
Nuts (Brazil nuts)
Fish (salmon)
Superfoods: Potential positive impact on health and lifestyle
Could include them in the diet to boost levels of antioxidant vitamins with the potential to reduce CHD and cancer risk
Superfoods: Potential negative impact on health and lifestyle
Can be expensive to the detriment of the household budget
Nutritionists are concerned about the superfoods label and advise that we eat a range of foods as exemplified by the eatwell guide
What are functional foods?
Developed to offer specific health benefits, beyond their usual nutritional value (give example for 2nd mark in exam)
Claims must be reliable and scientifically sound.
Advice must be offered to consumers about how to use the products to best effect.
Examples of functional foods
Margarines containing plant sterols
Probiotics (eg in the form of fermented milk/dairy products)
Probiotics (eg carbohydrate products like breakfast cereals)
Probiotic yoghurt is a ‘good’ bacteria which improves the digestive system and lowers risk of digestive/bowel problems.
May reduce eczema, especially in children
Boosts immune system
Functional foods: Potential positive impact on health
Spreads containing plant sterols that help to reduce LDL cholesterol (dangerous)
Probiotics dairy products that contain ‘good’ bacteria claim to improve the health of the intestine
Prebiotic products that contain soluble NSP that are said to support the function of probiotics
Functional foods: Potential positive impact on lifestyle
Consumers may change their shopping habits to include new functional foods with special benefits
