Causes of Hidden Hunger
When we talk about high quality food in rich countries, we tend to think of products that are meticulously prepared, are particularly delightful to eat, or have special ingredients that we consider to be of a higher quality in comparison to those in simil
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Causes of Hidden Hunger
Even Hunger Needs Quality: Not Just Quantity! Quality of Food When we talk about high quality food in rich countries, we tend to think of products that are meticulously prepared, are particularly delightful to eat, or have special ingredients that we consider to be of a higher quality in comparison to those in similar products. This definition of quality is of mostly no interest to people living in countries with mass nutritional problems, although it is precisely here that this issue is of life and death importance. Quality in this case means, first and foremost, that food contains the essential micronutrients (i.e., vitamins, trace elements) and amino acids (protein building blocks). Food quality can be calculated by means of the ratio of essential components (i.e., the percentage of the RDA) versus the number of calories (i.e., percentage of the recommended amount). This ratio, which is referred to as ‘nutrient density’, tells us how well adapted a particular food is for supplying micronutrients. The daily diet of individual persons or entire groups can be assessed using this ratio as a basis. Food quality, or to put it another way, nutritiousness, is a fundamental part of food security and, as such, the basis for each person’s nutritional requirements.
Food Security If we define healthy food as that which has everything our body needs to maintain a good state of health, then the flip side, unhealthy food, are products which lack
H. K. Biesalski, Hidden Hunger, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-33950-9_3, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013
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Causes of Hidden Hunger
these vital nutrients (micronutrients, amino acids). Thus, when choosing what we eat, it is necessary that we have a variety of foods in our diet to ensure that we get all of the necessary amounts of micronutrients and amino acids. Therefore, it is necessary for us to know what food we buy and eat contains and balance our diet to make sure that we receive enough calories, but that the RDAs for the different nutrients are met. The former involves nutrient density, the latter diet diversity. Provided that a wide variety of foodstuffs is available, a person must be in a position to first identify the nutrients contained in products (through proper education) and second to purchase them (by having enough money). Together, nutrient density and diet diversity make up food security.
Food security describes a situation in which all people have access to and the financial means to purchase safe, nutritious food that meets their own individual needs and tastes and ensures them an active and healthy life on a constant basis (FAO 2002).
This definition rests upon four fundamental pillars, the fourth of which was only added recently: • availability of food, • access to food, • food quality (nutritiousness), • stability of food prices. The FAO’s definition of food security includes the goal and hopeful vision of providing food to all hungry people on the one hand and the inherent dilemma contained within this vision, including ma
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