Describe consumer concerns about the quality and safety of foods, including additives, irradiation, and food-borne illnesses.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Responses will vary; the primary concerns among consumers regarding food issues are additives, irradiation, and food-borne illnesses. Food additives are chemical agents added to processed foods to help preserve them, to change their appearance, or to enhance their flavor. In an attempt to improve the quality of food, some manufacturers will use irradiation to treat both fresh and processed foods. Foods are exposed to gamma radiation, which increases shelf-life and destroys microorganisms that might have contaminated the food. This process is FDA approved and doe not make the food radioactive. Food-borne illnesses are another concern among consumers. Signs and symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea and can begin anywhere from 30 minutes to several weeks after eating the food. Although many cases of food-borne illness can be traced to food served at restaurants, approximately 1/3 can be traced to the home.