The Facts Behind The Issues

Question 1

What are fast foods?

Answer 1

Food that is prepared quickly and packaged so that it’s portable enough to either eat on premises or take away to eat elsewhere.

Question 2

Fast food: Potential positive impact on health

Answer 2

Contributes to 3 meals a day eating pattern instead of grazing and snacking

Question 3

Fast food: Potential negative impact on health

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

Fast food: Potential positive impact on lifestyle

Answer 4

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)

Question 5

Fast food: Potential negative impact on lifestyle

Answer 5

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)

Question 6

What are convenience foods?

Answer 6

Processed foods that are particularly prepared already and require minimal prep skills to use

Question 7

Convenience foods: Potential positive impact on health

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Convenience foods: Potential negative impact on health

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Convenience foods: Potential positive impact on lifestyle

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Convenience foods: Potential negative impact on lifestyle

Answer 10

Can be expensive - impact on family budget

Reduced skill levels

Question 11

Types of convenience foods

Answer 11

Canned food
Cartons
Cook->chill food
Dried food
Frozen food 
Jars
Ready-to-eat food
Value-added side dishes

Question 12

What are nano foods?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Nano foods: Potential positive impact of health

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Nano foods: Potential negative impact on health

Answer 14

Don’t know the long term health risks

Scientists still trying to determine whether size affects their toxicity

Question 15

Nano foods: Potential positive impact on lifestyle

Answer 15

Fewer shopping trips if shelf life is extended

Reduction in waste

Question 16

Nano foods: Potential negative impact on lifestyle

Answer 16

Don’t know impact on environment

Question 17

What are superfoods?

Answer 17

(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

Question 18

Examples of superfoods

Answer 18

Fruit (blueberries)
Veg (broccoli)
Nuts (Brazil nuts)
Fish (salmon)

Question 19

Superfoods: Potential positive impact on health and lifestyle

Answer 19

Could include them in the diet to boost levels of antioxidant vitamins with the potential to reduce CHD and cancer risk

Question 20

Superfoods: Potential negative impact on health and lifestyle

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What are functional foods?

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Examples of functional foods

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Functional foods: Potential positive impact on health

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Functional foods: Potential positive impact on lifestyle

Answer 24

Consumers may change their shopping habits to include new functional foods with special benefits

Question 25

Functional foods: Potential negative impact on lifestyle

Answer 25

Other cheaper foods can offer same health benefits

Question 26

What are fortified foods?

Answer 26

A type of functional food as they are products that have been supplemented with nutrients, usually in the form of vitamins and minerals

Most common types are staple foods such as bread, cereals and margarine.
Also infant milk and soya products (with calcium to match cows milk)

Important to mix fortified foods with fresh to gain maximum benefit e.g. breakfast cereals should be eaten with fruit or fruit juice to allow non haem iron to be absorbed

Question 27

Fortified foods: Potential positive impact on health and lifestyle

Answer 27

Breakfast cereals are an important source of vitamins and minerals eg iron, B12, folate

Breakfast cereals are sometimes eaten as a snack or supper

Very useful for children and teenagers as they need nutrient dense foods for their rapid growth spurts

Important for vegetarians (iron, B12, etc)

Question 28

Discuss 2 reasons why food is fortified

Answer 28

(i) nutrients have been added, usually in the form of vitamins and minerals. Very useful for children and teens…
(ii) most common types are staple foods, to ensure enough nutrients are eaten
- to enrich products for people with special diets
- to prevent deficiency disorders
- to replace nutrients lost during processing