Contaminants in food and nutritional guidance: theoretical reflection

Reflection study on the nutritional guidelines given to the population, which, in most parts of the world, emphasize on the consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes over industrialized foods, which contain more sugar, sodium and calories, and increase body weight. However, when one reads about...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista de Salud Pública
Main Authors: Rumiato, Anne Cristine, Monteiro, Maria Inês
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Portuguese
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia - Sede Bogotá - Facultad de Medicina - Instituto de Salud Pública 2017
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Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/revsaludpublica/article/view/41939
Description
Summary:Reflection study on the nutritional guidelines given to the population, which, in most parts of the world, emphasize on the consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes over industrialized foods, which contain more sugar, sodium and calories, and increase body weight. However, when one reads about the ways of cultivating fresh food and about the quality of meat and fish products destined for consumption, the question arises as to whether there is coherence between said guidance and consumption, given that there are reports of contamination of these foods by pesticide residues, as well as soil and water contamination, a topic scarcely addressed by state entities. What should be done to face this reality? A viable perspective is to raise awareness in the population, which should demand better quality foods, in addition to returning to healthier practices such as the cultivation of home-grown organic gardens and acquiring as few industrialized foods as possible. Far from causing controversy, this reflection aims to encourage a critical view in health professionals on their role in disease prevention and the demand for healthier foods for human consumption. Estudio de reflexión sobre las orientaciones nutricionales que se dan a la población y que, en la mayor parte del mundo, enfatizan el consumo de frutas, verduras y legumbres antes que los alimentos industrializados, que por contener mayor cantidad de azúcar, sodio y calorías, aumentan peso corporal. Sin embargo, cuando se lee acerca de las formas de cultivo de los alimentos frescos y sobre la calidad de los alimentos cárnicos y pescados, destinados al consumo de la población, surge la duda de si hay coherencia entre la orientación y el consumo, dado que hay relatos de contaminación de esos alimentos por residuos de pesticidas, contaminación del suelo, del agua, poco atendido por los órganos estatales. ¿Cuál debería ser la conducta ante la realidad que se presenta? Una perspectiva viable es la concientización de la población, que debe exigir mejores condiciones ...