What Went Wrong With The Food Industry

Food is the cultivated byproduct of nature, essential to all living species. For thousands of years, people have continually discovered new ways to preserve, cook and improve culinary dishes. During industrialization, machinery and tools were constructed for the cutting, processing, and sanitization of meat. Nowadays in even more modern times, preservatives and chemicals have been added to improve flavor, maintain freshness, and extend shelf life. Some believe these advances have improved health and food safety. However, others argue that these new methods are potentially hazardous. Although, these culinary advances have been made, there have still been issues within the public. Some have been put at risk for food poisoning or have passed from …show more content…
Clearly, food is regulated differently and production methods vary from country to country. Yet this is no excuse for the mishaps that happen during the production of food. There have been cases of mislabeling food products with “gluten free” when they weren’t. As minor as the mistake was, it had dire consequences. Therefore, food safety and regulation should not be taken lightly. Stronger precautionary measures should be taken to ensure the wellbeing of the public. Notably, some will insist that there is nothing wrong with the food industry. Maintaining; that production methods and regulation are as safe as can be. Yet, are they really? Ever stopped to wonder just what that long list of ingredients mean on a food product? What really goes on in the food …show more content…
What may seem alarming to one country in terms of food safety, may be okay for another. In India, the Nestlé company manufactures its own brand of instant noodles under the brand name Maggi. Last year, it was reported by a local agency that the noodles contained a significant amount of lead. A temporary ban was placed on the food product in India but was still exported to other countries. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India did not object to this. In fact, food agencies in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Britain analyzed the product and concluded it was safe for consumption. Even though the product did not exceed the safety amount in lead, the substance is still harmful to the human body nevertheless. Small amounts of lead intake can build up over time and result in lead poisoning. Why is a product like this allowed to be distributed and sold to the public? The FDA’s overall purpose is to ensure the wellbeing of the public. Why are substances such as lead are still allowed in foods? Nestlé isn’t the only company that has dealt with the problem of food safety. In Maharashtra, India, cases of Cadbury chocolates were apprehended by the Food and Drug Administration in 2003. The reason being, the chocolates were contaminated with worms. The company blamed the infestation on retailers and the FDA argued that the wrappers shouldn’t be infiltrated by insects. As a result,