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 measures that criminalize any form of false information by food manufacturers. There is also a need to establish proper standards for food labeling and promotion in order to eliminate the potential of having misleading information and dangerous products (Koc, Summer & Winson, 2017).
While it is widely believed that consumers choose what they like, there is a need for governments to enhance their regulations in order to curb any businesses that promote wrong information. The food labels are usually directed to the buyer, which implies that a healthy diet depends on the individual. Since the consumers lack the instruments to measure the quality and quantity of food, it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure that information shared is consistent. The government and regulative agencies are responsible for holding all manufacturers accountable to established production standards (Koc, Summer & Winson, 2017).
Many consumers bestow their trusts on the manufacturers by relying on the information provided on the labels. However, they end up eating or consuming something different that exposes their lives to potential danger. The provision of misleading messages on the labels is a common global practice (FAO, 2016). Just like other countries around the globe, Canada is not exceptional. The manufacturers in Canada provide false information on the labels to attract customers. As such, many Canadians are suffering from myriads of diseases due to consumption of unhealthy foods. Government regulation applies to the mandatory labels on the contents and accuracy, but the voluntary labels are subject to less official scrutiny (Rao & Wang, 2017). The reading on the packages can mislead or inform the buyers of the potential risks and benefits. However, many manufacturers tend to hide certain information even though they are detrimental to consumers. The manufactures concentrate on the promotion of the product instead of safeguarding the health of the buyers (Koc, Summer & Winson, 2017). They reveal the benefits with the sole aim of promoting a particular brand. As a result, one aspect of the product can be revealed, and the other aspec...