Medical professionals with little understanding of the food industry
will have increasing influence over agriculture and food policy in
future, a Laval University researcher is warning.
Gale West, who specializes in surveys of farmers, consumers,
nutritionists and doctors, told a conference on the future of Canadian
agriculture Jan. 13 that the growing emphasis on food as part of the
health industry gives health practitioners an increasing role in the
national food debate.
“The medical profession is going to increasingly dictate a view of food
Read Also
Going beyond “Resistant” on crop seed labels
Variety resistance is getting more specific on crop disease pathogens, but that information must be conveyed in a way that actually helps producers make rotation decisions.
and health,” West said.
“But they know nothing about the practicality or farming or the
economics of food production.”
With increasing attention on the unhealthy aspects of some food
consumption, “the medical profession is after us,” she said. “There will
be increasing pressure from consumers, politicians and doctors.”
She said that as consumers increasingly look to food as a source of
their health future, they will look to health professionals for advice
about what food and food systems are safe or better for them. A food
company claim of a safe product can be undermined immediately by one
skeptical comment about the product from a health professional.
“The doctor can destroy anything and everything with the drop of a hat,”
said West.
“But they don’t have to know anything about the system they are
criticizing. They know nothing about the practicality of farming or the
economics of food production.”
She argued that there will be increased pressure to tax products that
are deemed unhealthy without any understanding of how food is created or
the alternatives that are in the market.
“I think there is a big problem for the food industry in this trend,”
she said. “Health Canada may become a more important player than
Agriculture Canada in setting food policy. In that competition, who do
you think will win?”
