Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Corporations have redefined food as "stuff"

© Salem-News.org
Countries define food as "any item that is to be processed, partially processed, or unprocessed for consumption."

While the The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) recognition of the human right to food remains in place, the definition of food itself has been hollowed out. Some countries have created a new legal definition of food. It does not include any reference to the core aspects of food - sustaining life.

Food is defined as "any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells in an effort to produce energy, maintain life, and/or stimulate growth."

In the legal definition, the essence food - what is in it, what it does - is not considered, only what is done to it or with it. These countries define food as "any item that is to be processed, partially processed, or unprocessed for consumption." Perhaps in recognition of the removal from food of what makes it food rather than any other material, the word "food stuffs" is used, which include any substance to be ingested by humans.
This could be "stuff" insufficient to sustain life or even antithetical to it.
To read more ....

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