Food Choices and Issues

Catalog description

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the general principles of ethics and ethical theories, and how to use those concepts to make decisions about important issues relating to food, including healthier and safer food choices and choices that are best for the environment and society. The scientific underpinnings for dietary guidelines, food safety regulations and environmental protection are discussed. Topics include food systems and their history, agricultural production and its environmental and social impacts, relationships between diet and health, food processing, and food safety. Contemporary issues relating to food and diet, including climate change, genetically engineered foods, animals and their treatment, toxicology, hunger and food equity, and sustainable food systems are also discussed.