Nutrition and Health

Food is the basic necessity of life. Food is defined as any substance of either plant or animal origin consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism. It contains essential nutrients that provide energy, helps in normal growth and development, repair the worn out tissues and protect the body from diseases. Food contamination with microorganisms is a major source of illness either in the form of infections or poisoning. Food safety is becoming a major concern these days. Adulteration of foodstuffs is commonly practiced in India by traders. Food is contaminated or adulterated from production to consumption for financial gain. The normal physiological functions of a consumer are affected due to either addition of a deleterious substance or the removal of a vital component. Food laws have come into existence to maintain the quality of food produced in our country. Let us study about them in detail.