Food is 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, or stimulate
growth.
Historically, people secured food through two methods:
- Hunting and Gathering
- Agriculture.
Today, most of the food energy consumed
by the world population is supplied by the food industry.
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| Food Pyramid |
Food safety and food security are monitored by agencies like
the International Association for Food Protection, World Resources Institute,
World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Food
Information Council. They address issues such as sustainability, biological
diversity, climate change, nutritional economics, population growth, water
supply, and access to food.
The right to food is a human right derived from the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR),
recognizing the "right to an adequate standard of living, including
adequate food", as well as the "fundamental right to be free from
hunger".
