A take away menu of global food issues

A take away menu of global food issues

Climate Change and Biofules have a direct influence on world food supplies. This is the theme of the FAO World Food Day (16 October) but the problem is bigger than simply making food available to 862 million people. I try to show how big is the problem and give some reasons why it is big.

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References

- FAO

(http://www.fao.org/)

- World Food Day initiative (16^th October)

(http://www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en/)

- Information Note

(PDF: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Get_Involved/08WFDINFONOTE_EN.pdf)

- World Food Summit

(http://www.fao.org/WFS/homepage.htm)

- Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

(http://www.millenniumassessment.org/en/index.aspx )

- FAO Initiative on Soaring Food Prices

(http://www.fao.org/isfp/isfp-home/en/)

- THE STATE OF FOOD and AGRICULTURE 2008

(available at: http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0100e/i0100e00.htm)

- THE STATE OF FOOD and AGRICULTURE 2008

(pdf file: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0100e/i0100e.pdf).

- Annual report weighs opportunities and risks of biofuels, 7 October 2008, Rome,

(http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000928/)

- Andrew Martin, One Country’s Table Scraps, Another Country’s Meal

(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/weekinreview/18martin.html)

- The New York Times

(http://www.nytimes.com/)

- Environmental Protection Agency

(http://www.epa.gov/)

- Ton. (2008, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:34, October 13, 2008, from (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ton&oldid=244585524)

- BBC

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/)

- Food waste on 'staggering' scale

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7389351.stm)

- The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

(http://www.wrap.org.uk/)

- Tonne: Ton. (2008, October 11). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:34, October 13, 2008, from

(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ton&oldid=244585524)

- wastedfood.com

(wastedfood.com)

- Google News

(http://news.google.com/nwshp?ned=)

- Google News Search:China Milk Melamine (14 October 2008)

(http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=mozclient&num=30&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&q=China+Milk+Melamine)

- World Health Organisation

(http://www.who.int)

- WHO: Melamine-contaminated powdered infant formula in China – update.

(http://www.who.int/csr/don/2008_09_22/en/)

- Medline Plus website

(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/)

- Food Contamination and Poisoning:

(http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodcontaminationandpoisoning.html)

- Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) WHO webpage:

(http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/who/progs/fos/Otherissues/20020402_2)

- Influenza and avian influenza WHO:

(http://www.euro.who.int/flu).

- The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK,

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/)

- BSE > General Q&A > Section 9: Financial Issues:

(http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/general/qa/section9.html)

- World Organisation for Animal Health, Number of cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) reported in the United Kingdom:

(http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbru.htmb)

- World Organisation for Animal Health, Annual incidence rate of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in OIE Member Countries that have reported cases, excluding the United Kingdom

(http://www.oie.int/eng/info/en_esbincidence.htm).

- World Bank

(http://www.worldbank.org/)

- World Bank, Avian Flu: The Economic Costs:

(http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/NEWS/0,,contentMDK:20979352~pagePK:64257043~piPK:437376~theSitePK:4607,00.html)

Eating your words

Chinese dishes get official English names

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-31 11:12
> http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-08/31/content_6071689.htm <

This is a report from Xinhua on how the government in China are trying to standardise the names of Chinese food and dishes for the Olympics. The report says that 2,753 dishes and drinks have been translated; a list which will be eventually used throughout the country.


COMMENTS:

As the article recognises, the translation of food and dishes could be a sorry, if not hilarious experience. One always expects a good laugh when reading foreign menus in English. This initiative makes sense since it shows responsibility by the authorities towards visiting tourists. Maybe all the relevant tourist authorities throughout the world could agree on a standard menu glossary and vocabulary. Of course, maybe this is not practical for all the various dishes, but certainly for the main ingredients and popular dishes.


This also makes sense in the context of business. It is good corporate responsibility to communicate well with one's clients. Unfortunately, sometimes a menu translated into English (badly or not) can also mean inflated prices if not more. Personally, I try to keep away from establishments with menus in English.

How about other authorities doing the same with their various jargon and instructions: health, police, road signs?

BOTTOM LINE

It's good to know what your eating.

Where is the beef?

Where is the beef?

Country:
USA

Source:
Geno's Steaks
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geno's_Steaks)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(First saw the story in Reuters)
LINK

Philadelphia "English-only" eatery faces probe
By Jon Hurdle Mon Jun 12, 6:29 PM ET
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
LINK1 LINK2


Story:
Geno’s Steaks put up a sign saying, “This is America – When ordering, speak English.” The Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations is considering whether this discriminates on nationality or ethnicity. The restaurant says that if people don’t speak English nothing will happen, they’ll still serve the customer.

Facts:
- prospective fine $300.
- the owners of the restaurant are of Italian descent.

Language Issues:
- Is language linked to race or ethnicity?
- How is language linked to race or ethnicity?

Comments:
- Is a business owner or their staff expected to communicate in all the languages and dialects of the world?
- Bandwagon politics can be dangerous to real human relations. I have already included stories on this blog on how people can be exploited because they do not speak English.

Bottom-Line:
Where is the beef?

Snack Food advertisers use SMS to target kids.

Snack Food advertisers use SMS to target kids.

Country:
United Kingdom

Source:
Junk food marketers target kids with dirty tricks
30/01/2006
Food & Beverage Development – Europe
http://foodnavigator.com/news/printNewsBis.asp?id=65451
© 2000/2006 - Decision News Media SAS

Original information:
Exposed: The dirty tricks used to push junk food to children
29 January 2006
Which?
© Which 2006

Story:
Snack food advertisers are using new technologies to target children in the UK. These companies are using SMS, mobile phone text messages, to reach children which is said to be very effective. The format and language used for SMS messages is in a style children can understand.

At the moment there is only a voluntary code of conduct regulating the snack industry; this is expected to change in 2007.

Facts:
- Nine out ten British children have a mobile phone.
- Which? and The Food Commission identified 40 publicity tricks using new technology.
- One third of children in the UK, between the ages of 2 – 15, are classed as overweight or obese.

Language Issues:
- Children are very much capable of understanding sophisticated language messages.
- Understanding a language does not imply that one understands the moral implications of a message.
- Context is very important for language. This story shows that the right message in a given context leads to the appropriate behaviour. The decisive factor seems to be that the reader can relate to the context.
- How can society use language to effectively communicate with children to teach them about value judgements?

Comments:
- Given that companies are in business for a profit should they be compensated for not exploiting the market when they could do so legally?
- Is moral behaviour a value added feature for a company or brand?
- Couldn’t this be seen as brand positioning with children? Presumably, some people would still be attracted to the brand when the company offers healthy or normal foods.
- What are the long term legal and market implications for companies who sell unhealthy foods?
- Should this concern be a global issue?

Bottom-Line:
How much will it cost the industry not to target children?