Here are my thoughts on future themes, concerns, research areas or developments important to food science and human nutrition:
1. Fortification of food: Should the state intervene by recommending the fortifications of food for public health, for example folic acid?
2. Functional foods: Foods high in phytochemicals and other nutrients which are increasingly being seen as beneficial often attract a premium price and some claims which may be ambitious. The science is needed to back up these claims, studies done on humans.
3. Additional uses: The food industry is crossing boundaries to now have nutrients for example in cosmetics or medical procedures.
4. Self regulation vs state regulation: Product reformulation consumer driven by economics or regulated by the state, for example salt content.
5. Food deserts: Certain cohorts are excluded from fresh fruit and vegetables due to low car ownership, poor public transport and location top shopping areas and markets which increasingly are in more affluent areas.
6. School meals and education: This dichotomy is key to reducing rates of obesity and diabetes. Children and young adults must be fed a healthy and sustainable diet at school and college and be taught the basics of nutrition such as reading food labels, what is fat, how to shop and how to put a meal together.
7. Media and Science: Generally the public’s perception and understanding of Science is low. The overall message of health and nutrition is lost by continual scare stories and bad Science.
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