Unit 13
Consumer Concerns, Environmental Issues, and Hunger

Overview

In this final unit we go beyond the nutrients in food and their effects on health to look at various other issues related to diet.

In Section 1 you will learn about various concerns about the healthfulness of our diet. Topics discussed include food-borne illnesses, environmental contaminants, food additives, and drinking water.

Section 2 discusses problems of a more global nature, including the highly interconnected subject of environmental degradation, overpopulation, and our food supply. Finally, we look at sustainable agriculture as a possible solution to some of these problems.

Objectives

After completing this unit, you should be able to

1. describe how to prevent food-borne illnesses.
2. describe the problem of environmental contaminants.
3. discuss the use of food additives and their safety.
4. discuss the safety questions related to drinking water.
5. discuss the potential benefits and risks of genetically modified foods.
6. discuss the relationships among the problems of environmental degradation, overpopulation, and hunger, including possible solutions to these problems.