Concerns: Food and Water

1. Concerns: Food and Water

2. FDA: Food and Drug Administration • monitors food network • farmers, shippers, preparers, processors, packagers • deals with • foodborne illnesses • nutritional adequacy • environmental contaminants • naturally occurring toxicants • pesticides • food additives • water safety

3. Foodborne Illness • foodborne infections • food contaminated with microorganisms • food intoxication • food containing toxins produced by microorganism • food safety • contamination in processing • broken seals, bulging cans • cross-contamination • proper preparation

4. Irradiation • does not change taste, texture, appearance • does not make food radioactive • controls mold • allows for room temperature storage • extends shelf life of fresh fruits and veggies • destroys harmful bacteria • highly regulated by FDA

5. Nutritional Adequacy • availability of good labeling • minimize nutrient loss with proper handling • water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water • refrigeration slows degradation of vitamins from fruits and vegetables • oxygen destroys some vitamins

6. Environmental Contaminants • persistence is key • short lived or lingering • bioaccumulation • EPA and FDA both monitor

7. Natural Toxicants • poisonous mushrooms • goitrogen: can enlarge thyroid • cabbage, turnips, kale, cauliflower • cyanogens: inactive compounds for cyanide • can be activated by certain plant enzymes • lima beans and fruit seeds • solanine: narcotic-like substance • potatoes

8. Pesticides • can linger on foods • government sets tolerance level • FDA and EPA regulate • selective surveys of fields • food on the plate: FDA • alternatives to pesticides • organic crops • no use of chemicals on crop or in feed • no irradiation of genetic engineering

9. Minimizing Pesticide Residues • trim fat • no holes in fruits or vegetables • scrub and rinse • do not bite into peel • peel when appropriate • doing so loses fiber, vitamins and minerals • eat a variety

10. Food Additives • FDA regulations address • effectiveness • detectable and measurable in final product • safe • Delaney Clause: “no substance that is known to cause cancer in animals or humans at any dose level shall be added to foods” • strict and inflexible???

11. additives can’t be used • to disguise products • deceive • where they destroy nutrients • if sound manufacturing can achieve the effect

12. Intentional Food Additives • antimicrobial agents • nitrates: preserve color, enhance flavor, minimize bacterial growth • antioxidents • primarily vitamins C and E • colors • natural pigments only • caramel and carotenoids

13. artificial flavor and flavor enhancers • spices, herbs, fruit juices, MSG • texture and stability • emulsifiers • keep spices mixed in salad dressings • gums • thicken foods • nutrient additives • vitamins A and D to milk; fortified cereal • correct deficiencies • restore nutrients lost • correct nutritional inferiority

14. Indirect Food Additives • acrylamide: cancer and nerve damage • found in carbs cooked at high temps • microwave packaging: the part that helps cook the food • dioxins: chlorine treatment (bleached paper) for filters, milk cartons, paper plates • hormones: growth hormone in cattle • antibiotics: intentionally given to livestock • drug residue is minimized with time

15. Water • sources • groundwater or surface water • contamination is widespread • surface water is more reversible because of sun and rain • groundwater is slow, but more permanent • bottled water is now regulated • classified as food