Question

Let's take a look at our food supply: the foods we buy, eat, and store in our cupboards and refrigerators.

Did you ever wonder, where our food is coming from? How far a food item might travel before it ends up on our plates? How does the distance that food travels affect its taste? How does the time delay between harvest and end-consumption affect the food's nutrient composition? How do harvest conditions, our food storage at home and preparation methods affect the quality and safety of our meals?

Since this discussion deals with two topics (chapter 14 and chapter 15), please chose one (#1 or #2) depending on your personal interest:

1. Please visit one of the following web sites, watch one or two of their videos (combined video length should be at least 25 minutes), and then summarize what you learned from the Food Safety videos listed below (make sure to give us the video title and web site where you accessed it), and tell us about anything noteworthy in your opinion that was not already mentioned in our text book, and how the video will influence your future 'food handling techniques'.

a) Visit the FIGHT BAC! Partnership for Food Safety Education web site at http://www.fightbac.org/free-resources/videos/ , and watch one of the following videos (60-90min in length):

What Lies Beneath: The Science Behind Contamination

9/2/15 Webinar: Home Food Safety Myths and Facts

7/16/2015 Webinar: Consumer Refrigeration Practices and Spreading the CHILL

Opening Session of the Consumer Food Safety Education Conference 2014

Consumer Food Safety Education Conference Session: Call to Action

Consumer Food Safety Education Conference Session: Meaningful Messengers

Consumer Food Safety Education Conference Session: Champions for Consumers

Alternatively, you may also chose any other video on the BAC web site as long as it is over 25 min in length (make sure to tell us the video title when you present your summary to our class discussion).

Or

b) Watch the youtube 6th Ed. ServSafe Manager Training Video (1 - 6) available athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5ldu1zQxzs (60min in length)

Or

c) Watch the youtube videos Food Safety at Home available atFood Safety at Home (19min) AND the youtube video Dirty Little Secrets - Kitchen Food Safety available atDirty Little Secrets - Kitchen Food Safety (8min in length) OR the youtube video Foodborne Illness: What Problem? available atFoodborne Illness: What Problem? (11min in length)

2. Please watch the following PBS-video 'E2 transport — Food Miles', which reflects on the environmental impacts of America's current food system. In the 21st century global food economy, most foods travel an average of 1,500 miles from farm to plate. As author Michael Pollan elaborates on the impacts of this fossil fuel-driven system are detrimental to the environment, but also to our health and social well-being. Writer Michael Shuman argues that investing in local food systems lessens the distance between who we are and what we eat and creates wealth in the community. You can view the video through this link e2 - Food Miles-SD.mp4 or https://vimeo.com/46492156.

Here are the discussion questions for 2. , which are a mix of scientific and socioeconomic inquiries; depending on your interest, please chose one of the following questions:

1) Have you ever heard of urban gardening? What is it? And what are your thoughts now after reflecting on the video and urban gardening: what will you do with this new insight? Would you like to do it ?

2) Think about a typical dinner that you eat. What foods does it include? Do you know where that food comes from (before it ends up in the supermarket)? Where it is grown? Using what methods? Where it is processed, if it is processed? And what are your thoughts now after reflecting on the above: what will you do with this new insight?

3) What is the main difference between fossil fuel-based agriculture and solar-based agriculture? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each type? You can make a pro and con list if you’d like. And what are your thoughts now after reflecting on the above: what will you do with this new insight?

4) When did fossil fuel-based agriculture emerge? Why did it emerge at that time? Name two specific reasons. And what are your thoughts now after reflecting on the video and the above: what will you do with this new insight?

5) What are some of the environmental benefits of buying food from local organic farmers? What are some of the drawbacks? And what are your thoughts now after reflecting on the video and the above: what will you do with this new insight?

6) In the video, when Michael Pollan describes why our current food system is unsustainable, he states that there are “internal contradictions that will lead to breakdowns.” What does he mean? Can you think of what those internal contradictions might be? And what are your thoughts now after reflecting on the video and the above: what will you do with this new insight?

7) In the video Ann Karlen from the Fair Food Project talks about what the word 'fair' means to her. List three points that she makes about being fair. What do you think are 'fair' practices when it comes to food? Fair to whom or what? The animals, the consumers, the farmers, the environment? Make your own list of what you think are fair and unfair practices. What will you do now regarding your food selection based on this new insight?