This article shows the differences in sustainability of a diet consisting of unprocessed food or processed food. The effect on trophic levels was considered as well as economical, environmental, and social effects

Bartlett, Dylan

Buisch, Mickayla

Gengo, Kelsey

Sheehan, Katie

English

SUNY Geneseo KnightScholar (State University of New York)

Unprocessed Food is More SustainableUnprocessed food definition:Food that has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances.Processed food definition:food item that has had a series of mechanical or chemical operations performed on it to change or preserve it.WHY ARE PPROCESSED FOODS UNSUSTAINABLE?Soybeans and corn are unprocessed foods that are utilized in the process of creating unprocessed food.  These whole foods are converted into soybean oil and high fructose corn syrup and used abundantly in the production of processed foods. The reproduction of these crops in the same locations have created dead zones where vegetation is no longer able to grow. For example, in the Gulf of Mexico there exists a dead zone the size New Jersey (8,543 sq. mi.) created by the overproduction of the crops. TROPHIC LEVELSUnprocessed foods provide more nutritional value to the consumer, reduces transportation cost which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce food waste. Less agricultural production will be needed as the natural form of the food is being used. As there is less intermediates, there are fewer trophic levels as well. (S. Satyanarayana, P. Pindi, A. Singh, Dattatreya A, and Aditya G - 2012)HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PROCESSED FOODSMany of these foods are full of added sugar and fat and contribute to overweight and obesity. This matters for cancer prevention, because obesity is linked to higher risk, and a healthy diet links to lower risk for many common cancers, as well as other chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. (Bender)FOSSIL FUEL EMISSONS INCREASE WITH PROCESSED FOOD TRANSPORTATION Processed foods can be transported further than unprocessed food due to the additives utilized in their production to increase their self life. Although this sounds beneficial, this has unintended repercussions as transporting these foods over long distances contributes to air pollution and increases CO2 emissions in the atmosphere.  Opposing Viewpoint:• Cheaper than unprocessed• Harder to obtain• Last longerFigure caption: This graph depicts the relationship between the amount of CO2 produced and the distance traveled when transporting processed foodsSustainability: the ability to meet the needs of the current population without compromising the needs of future populationsAuthors: Dylan Bartlett, Mickayla Buisch, Kelsey Gengo, and Katie SheehanAntoinette. Buying Local: Do Food Miles Matter? Harvard Extension School. 2019 Jul 26 [accessed 2019 Nov 6]. https://www.extension.harvard.edu/inside-extension/buying-local-do-food-miles-matterDenton C. How Are Food and the Environment Related? Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing. [accessed 2019 Nov 6]. https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/food-medicine/how-are-food-and-environment-relatedRomán S, Sánchez-Siles LM, Siegrist M. The importance of food naturalness for consumers: Results of a systematic review. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 2017 Jun 16 [accessed 2019 Nov 7]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092422441730122XWork Cited

Unprocessed Food Sustainability

https://knightscholar.geneseo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1091&amp;context=sustainability-curriculum-student

Unprocessed Food Sustainability

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SUNY Geneseo KnightScholar (State University of New York)