Sociology of Food and Eating Social Sciences Research Paper

Sociology of Food and Eating
Student’s Name
Institutional Association
Nutrition and Food Labelling
Introduction
Many people are currently experiencing health complications due to poor eating habits. Quality of food is of the essence for all people. Even though many people strive to consume clean and quality food, manufacturers expose consumers to unhealthy conditions because they are profit-driven, and produce foods without considering the health implications (Koc, Summer & Winson, 2017). The packaging is one aspect that misleads the consumers in the market. In most cases, food labels do not portray the actual content and ingredients used in manufacturing. At the beginning of each year, many people resolve to eat healthy in order to reduce the risks of lifestyle diseases. Numerous investigations are affirming that the current food system exposes the public to numerous health risks. In order to curb these risks, information displayed on food packaging/food labels should be strictly regulated to avoid misinformation and expose consumers to possible health risks.
Food Labeling and Packaging
Without proper and accurate labeling of packaged foods, consumers are unable to detect the quality and quantity of food. In this regard, producers have the primary mandate of ensuring that all the foods retailed or distributed to consumers have appropriate information on the labels. This practice is intended to prevent any form of deceptive sales and ensure that consumers get what they need. All the labeling policies require consumers to avoid misleading information while labeling food products. There are numerous incidences where products are placed on the market for mere financial gain without considering the health risks to consumers (FAO, 2016).
Moreover, there are certain foods, although there are not harmful, fail to produce the benefits claimed in the labels and package information. In this regard, it is essential to offer detailed information about the nature, composition, and health benefits of the products. Accurate labeling is essential for protecting the interests of consumers and ensuring that they know how to use the product. Moreover, the packaging information may be used to inform clients about the potential health risks, ensuring that consumers understand how to cook, store, or prepare those products. The label can also be used to outline the potential health benefits and how consumers can benefit from eating these meals (FAO, 2016).
One of the critical requirements in food consumption is maintaining a balanced diet. As technology is applied in food production, there is a need to elaborate on the health risks associated with technology-controlled production. For instance, the presence of GMOs threatens the health of consumers. In this regard, food packaging plays a vital role in the selection of groceries. Clients can find nutritional information on the packaging of the food (Rao & Wang, 2017). However, many food labels communicate misleading information on the health benefits to innocent shoppers to attract attention and expand the sales revenue. The information available in the labels are not to the benefits of the customers (FAO, 2016). In order to curb these, policymakers must formulate mea...