What is food!?!

I cannot explain just how excited I was when the updated Dietary Guidelines came out last month from the States. They were long anticipated and though a few months delayed it has been fun to watch the fallout. Like most entertainment on social media the reactions to the information presented are often more interesting!
 
The vibe is Eat Real Food… and the tables have turned on carbs and low fat. Key changes that will have a significant impact on health. But what has really stood out is the Real Food message and I realise that regardless of the detail we have to start at the very basics again. How many people/ children know what real food is?
 
More to the point what do we mean by food?
 
It depends on the context. A definition I found…
 
Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support, providing energy and essential nutrients necessary for growth and maintenance of life. It can come from plant, animal, or fungal sources and is typically ingested orally.
 
It gets tricky though as you delve into the types of “foods” and whether it’s a food supplement or not. Revenue have detailed the definitions from a tax point of view. Can we pay tax on it?
 
 
report-on-the-definition-of-food
 
From a food law perspective it allows any substance that can be consumed  including additives, flavourings, ingredients… including contaminants..so all the sprays allowed in the growing of same. A pesticide laden carrot can be considered safe to eat…?! A lab grown burger can pass as a food!
A nutritional science view says food provides nutrients and energy. We went right into the depth of this with calorie conversions to the point where we saw the calorie counts and not the food. How easily we have forgotten!
 
Its not as clear as  you might think and I do feel it is only right to bring our selves back to the fold and learn the basics..what is real food! 

Anne Maher