DOES FOOD SAFETY CONFLICT WITH FOOD SECURITY? THE SAFE CONSUMPTION OF FOOD

Jean D. Kinsey

No 14326, Working Papers from University of Minnesota, The Food Industry Center

Abstract: This paper concludes by saying no, food safety and security reinforce each other. It combines food safety and food security into the concept of "safe food consumption." Unsafe food consumption occurs when food contains known substances that lead to short or long term illness or death (botulism) and suspect substances that are believed to lead to delayed diseases (pesticides). It also occurs when hunger or over eating contribute to long-term illness and shorter life expectancy. The costs of illnesses related to obesity are six to fourteen times as great as the costs attributed to food born illnesses caused by microbial contamination. The implications for health care costs due to Type 2 Diabetes alone make this a health crisis in slow motion. Obesity is not a problem unique to westernized countries. On balance, 8.2 percent of the world's population is obese while 5.8 percent are underweight. The magnitude of these dual food and diet issues clearly poses new challenges for global food policy and food security. Unsafe food eaten by poor people jeopardizes their health as surely as too little food. These concepts operate in tandem. Hunger and being overweight often co-exist in the same household which jeopardizes ones ability to earn income and in turn, purchase healthy food. Safe food consumption is compatible and consistent with food security in all parts of the world. The costs of illnesses related to obesity are six to fourteen times as great as the costs attributed food born illnesses caused by microbial contamination. The implications for health care costs due to Type 2 Diabetes alone make this an health crisis is slow motion. Obesity is not a problem unique to westernized countries. On balance 8.2 percent of the world's population is obese while 5.8 percent are underweight. The magnitude of these dual food and diet issues clearly poses new challenges for global food policy and food security. Unsafe food eaten by poor people jeopardizes their health as surely as too little food. These concepts operate in tandem. Hunger and being overweight often co-exist in the same household which jeopardizes ones ability to earn income and in turn, purchase healthy food. Safe food consumption is compatible and consistent with food security in all parts of the world.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Food Security and Poverty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28
Date: 2004
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:umrfwp:14326

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.14326

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