Problem
Food health standards of convenience
Other Names:
Shifting toxicity guidelines for food additives Incidence:
It is reported that following the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident, the Norwegian government set the permitted limit for sale of reindeer meat at 600 becquerels. After a few months, when reindeer meat was selling poorly they revised the limit to 6,000 becquerels. At the same time it was still officially dangerous to eat a pork chop with 601 becquerels radiation contamination.
A study in the late 1980s showed 37 out of 67 samples of potatoes contained tecnazene (a chemical used to stop sprouting) above the maximum residue level in the UK. By 1990 this had decreased dramatically because the maximum residue level had been raised from one to five milligrams per kg. Similarly with carrots: after finding residues of triazophos (an insecticide which is a chemical descendant of nerve gas) at ten times the maximum residue level, the Ministry raised the acceptable level by a factor of 20.
Broader Problems:
Applied double standardsChemical contaminants of foodArbitrary standards of evidencePoliticization of health standards Narrower Problems:
Illegal repackaging of food Related Problems:
Untested efficacy of environmental policyRadioactive contamination of animals and animal products Aggravates:
Unclean foodHealth hazards from food and drink Strategies:
Regulating food standardsReviewing food processing industryEvaluating effects of world trade agreements on public healthImproving food hygiene References:
Robbins, Christopher: Poisoned Harvest Subject(s):
Amenities → FoodAmenities → Living conditions
Health Care → Health
Industry → Cosmetics, soaps, additives
Research, Standards → Standards
Societal Problems → Poison
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
E: Emanations of other problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST