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Food Systems and Human Health

The food system, at its most basic level, describes a pathway in which food gets into your home and onto
your plate.
The pathway varies depending on what and where something is obtained. For most foods bought at
large retailers, a highly complex system provides the means for food throughout the country (and the
world) to get to you. This intricate chain of movement has been in flow for hundreds of years with many
changes along the way – and likely more to come. It is a perfect example of American innovation.

However, most consumers need to understand that food traveling along this conventional path covers a
very long distance, touches many hands and comes with certain risks that are important to be aware of
before it gets into your home:

  • There is greater risk for viral and bacterial contamination. These are the most commoncauses of food poisoning.
  • Production-related medicinal contamination is a concern for human health with heavy use of antibiotics and synthetic hormones. Medicines commonly used in animal husbandry and farming are incorporated to treat and prevent certain illnesses and conditions that affect mass production. Unfortunately, the treated animal’s manure can be a significant source of antibiotic residue that infiltrates our soil and water systems. These residues make their way into our bodies when we consume meats that have been raised in this way or when we consume produce contaminated by fertilizers that used the treated animal’s manure. This can impact our health in profound ways.
  • Food travelling long distances need some form of protection to arrive at its destination intact. This typically means the addition of chemicals, enzymes or other preservatives that also work to support flavor. These are regulated closely by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
  • Nutrient density of conventionally grown food is less than those grown and purchased locally. In fact, a recent study by Bhardwaj et al. (2024) states that invasive farming techniques, artificial fertilization, pesticide use, and other factors aligned with the broader food system have harmed our soil quality, thus resulting in decreased nutritional content of foods. When nearly 42% of American adults are struggling with obesity within the US, it’s not an overexaggeration to state that we are highly undernourished despite being overfed.

Alternatively, when you purchase food directly from farms that care about the long-term health of their animals and the environment, you immediately benefit. This results in fresher, safer, more nutritious foods – and a more sustainable food system for future generations.

The call to support local farms is so strong that the United States Department of Agriculture is working diligently to increase advocacy, support and promotion of local food markets. They recognize the important role they play in not only providing consumers with the best source for nutritional value and health, but also their ability to strengthen the resiliency of local food systems.

This is why it’s so important to align yourself with a local rancher in your community that is committed to sustainable agriculture practices that prioritize animal wellbeing and soil health while refraining from using synthetic inputs like antibiotics, growth hormones, and chemical fertilizers. For me and my family, I choose to buy from PaintedQuarters.com; a farm that respects nature and my well-being.

Want to learn more about sustainable agriculture? Stay tuned as we’ll be exploring the differences between organic versus conventional versus regenerative farming practices and what it all means for you.

References:


Committee on a Framework for Assessing the Health, Environmental, and Social Effects of the Food System; Food and Nutrition Board; Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Institute of Medicine; National Research Council; Nesheim MC, Oria M, Yih PT, editors. A Framework for Assessing Effects of the Food System. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2015 Jun 17. 2, Overview of the U.S. Food System. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305173/

McCurdy, M. (2022, May 17). Health benefits of eating locally. University of New Hampshire. https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2022/05/health-benefits-eating-locally FoodSafety.gov. (2024, November 15). Bacteria and viruses. https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-poisoning/bacteria-and-viruses

US Food and Drug Administration. (2025, January 15). Food chemical safety. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/food-chemical-safety#:~:text=Food%20additives%20and%20color%20additives,for%20a%20specific%20intended%20u
se.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 14). Adult obesity facts. https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult-obesity-facts/index.html.

US Department of Agriculture. (2024, October 31). USDA Announces $33.5 Million in Grant Awards to Expand Local and Regional Food Systems. https://www.ams.usda.gov/press-release/usda-announces-335-million-grant-awards-expand-localand-regional-food-systems#:~:text=The%20funding%20will%20be%20distributed,activities;%20and%20new%20market%20development.

Florida Farmer’s Market Association. (n.d.). Find a Florida farmer’s market. https://farmersmarkettoolkit.org/find-a-market

Bhardwaj, R. L., Parashar, A., Parewa, H. P., & Vyas, L. (2024). An Alarming Decline in the Nutritional Quality of Foods: The Biggest Challenge for Future Generations’ Health. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 13(6), 877. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods13060877

Kiani, A. K., Dhuli, K., Donato, K., Aquilanti, B., Velluti, V., Matera, G., Iaconelli, A., Connelly, S. T., Bellinato, F., Gisondi, P., & Bertelli, M. (2022). Main nutritional deficiencies. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene, 63(2 Suppl 3), E93–E101. https://doi.org/10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2752

Marwa Khmaissa, Héla Zouari-Mechichi, Giuliano Sciara, Eric Record, Tahar Mechichi. (2024). Pollution from livestock farming antibiotics an emerging environmental and human health concern: A review. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, Volume 13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100410.

Manyi-Loh, C., Mamphweli, S., Meyer, E., & Okoh, A. (2018). Antibiotic Use in Agriculture and Its Consequential Resistance in Environmental Sources: Potential Public Health Implications. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 23(4), 795. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040795.

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