ÒWe should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.Ó ÑEpicurus This fascinating book examines the biology and culture of foods and beverages that are consumed in communal settings, with special attention to their health implications. Nina Etkin covers a wealth of topics, exploring human evolutionary history, the Slow Food movement, ritual and ceremonial foods, caffeinated beverages, spices, the street foods of Hawaii and northern Nigeria, and even bottled water. Her work is framed by a biocultural perspective that considers both the physiological implications of consumption and the cultural construction and circulation of foods. For Etkin, the foods and beverages we consume are simultaneously Òbiodynamic substances and cultural objects.Ó The book begins with a look at the social eating habits of our primate relatives and discusses our evolutionary adaptations. It then offers a history of social foods in the era of European expansion, with a focus on spices and Òcaffeinated cordials.Ó (Of course, there were some powerful physiological consequences of eating foods brought home by returning explorers, and those are considered tooÑalong with consequences for native peoples.) From there, the book describes Òstreet food,Ó which is always served in communal settings. Etkin then scrutinizes ceremonial foods and beverages, and considers their pharmacological effects as well. Her extensive examination concludes by assessing the biological and cultural implications of bottled water. While intended primarily for scholars, this enticing book serves up a tantalizing smorgasbord of food for thought.

This fascinating book examines the biology and culture of foods and beverages that are consumed in communal settings, with special attention to their health implications. Nina Etkin covers a wealth of topics, exploring human evolutionary history, the Slow Food movement, ritual and ceremonial foods, caffeinated beverages, spices, the street foods of Hawaii and northern Nigeria, and even bottled water. Her work is framed by a biocultural perspective that considers both the physiological implications of consumption and the cultural construction and circulation of foods.

Offers tips and guidelines for following a healthy diet, from choosing the right food at the supermarket to eating well at every stage in life.

Food and cuisine are important subjects for historians across many areas of study. Food, after all, is one of the most basic human needs and a foundational part of social and cultural histories. Such topics as famines, food supply, nutrition, and public health are addressed by historians specializing in every era and every nation. Food in Time and Place delivers an unprecedented review of the state of historical research on food, endorsed by the American Historical Association, providing readers with a geographically, chronologically, and topically broad understanding of food cultures—from ancient Mediterranean and medieval societies to France and its domination of haute cuisine. Teachers, students, and scholars in food history will appreciate coverage of different thematic concerns, such as transfers of crops, conquest, colonization, immigration, and modern forms of globalization.

How safe is our food supply? Each year the media report what appears to be growing concern related to illness caused by the food consumed by Americans. These food borne illnesses are caused by pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide residues, and food additives. Recent actions taken at the federal, state, and local levels in response to the increase in reported incidences of food borne illnesses point to the need to evaluate the food safety system in the United States. This book assesses the effectiveness of the current food safety system and provides recommendations on changes needed to ensure an effective science-based food safety system. Ensuring Safe Food discusses such important issues as: What are the primary hazards associated with the food supply? What gaps exist in the current system for ensuring a safe food supply? What effects do trends in food consumption have on food safety? What is the impact of food preparation and handling practices in the home, in food services, or in production operations on the risk of food borne illnesses? What organizational changes in responsibility or oversight could be made to increase the effectiveness of the food safety system in the United States? Current concerns associated with microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards in the food supply are discussed. The book also considers how changes in technology and food processing might introduce new risks. Recommendations are made on steps for developing a coordinated, unified system for food safety. The book also highlights areas that need additional study. Ensuring Safe Food will be important for policymakers, food trade professionals, food producers, food processors, food researchers, public health professionals, and consumers.

This document has been created with the aim of highlighting the significant advances by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in engagement and support to its ten member countries in implementing their national Codex activities. The authors consolidated inputs provided by the national focal points together with FAO country offices. This report supersedes the previous version entitled “Status of National Codex Activities” published in 2012. It also provides information for food safety competent authorities in the government sector outside of the ASEAN region. In addition, the intention is that the document will help to indirectly strengthen collaboration within the region through the discussion and benchmarking of good practices. This document will also serve as the new baseline for the success of further projects and improvements made by the countries and FAO in strengthening capacities for enhancing Codex Alimentarius activities in ASEAN.

The Fifth edition of the Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods has now been fully updated. All chapters have been revised and new chapters have been added. This Compendium is the primary authority for food safety testing and presents a comprehensive selection of proven testing methods with an emphasis on accuracy, relevance, and reliability. The Compendium is a must-have for all food laboratories, food manufacturers, public health laboratories, and anyone performing food safety testing. - Publisher.

Procedures to Investigate Foodborne Illness is designed to guide public health personnel or teams in any country that investigates reports of alleged foodborne illnesses. The manual is based on epidemiologic principles and investigative techniques that have been found effective in determining causal factors of disease incidence. The guidelines are presented in the sequence usually followed during investigations and are organized so that an investigator can easily find the information needed in any phase of an investigation. Included are descriptions of the following procedures: Plan, prepare, investigate and respond to intentional contamination of food Handle illness alerts and food-related complaints that may be related to illness Interview ill persons, those at risk, and controls Develop a case definition Collect and ship specimens and food samples Conduct hazard analysis (environmental assessments) at sites where foods responsible for outbreaks were produced, processed, or prepared Trace sources of contamination Identify factors responsible for contamination, survival of pathogenic microorganisms or toxic substances, and/or propagation of pathogens Collate and interpret collected data Report information about the outbreak This edition also contains extensively updated and more user-friendly keys to assist investigators in identifying the contributing factors that may lead to the contamination, proliferation or survival of agents of foodborne disease.