Foods that promote human health - 'functional foods' or nutraceuticals - have caught the imagination of the global food industry. All the household-name companies are developing them as a key driver in their global strategies. They see the prospect of new markets and bigger margins, but the issues presented are fraught with complexity and difficulties. Distinguishing hype from real hope, the authors of this handbook explain the dilemmas and contradictions the industry faces. They present a wealth of detailed marketing, food policy and regulatory material from the leading markets world-wide and show how the hopes of the industry, and the consumer, may be dashed. The solution they offer is radical - nothing less than a new business model of what they term a healthful company.

In the years since publication of the first edition of Food Wars much has happened in the world of food policy. This new edition brings these developments fully up to date within the original analytical framework of competing paradigms or worldviews shaping the direction and decision-making within food politics and policy. The key theme of the importance of integrating human and environmental health has become even more pressing. In the first edition the authors set out and brought together the different strands of emerging agendas and competing narratives. The second edition retains the same core structure and includes updated examples, case studies and the new issues which show how these conflicting tendencies have played out in practice over recent years and what this tells us about the way the global food system is heading. Examples of key issues given increased attention include: nutrition, including the global rise in obesity, as well as chronic conditions, hunger and under-nutrition the environment, particularly the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, water stress and food security food industry concentration and market power volatility and uncertainty over food prices and policy responses tensions over food, democracy and citizenship social and cultural aspects impacting food and nutrition policies.

With growing affluence in the developed world, food has become an increasing focus for attention. In this text, the authors argue that in order to understand the extensive and dramatic developments in the world of food, a new interdisciplinary approach is necessary. "The Age of Affluence" addresses food consumption in this way. The volume argues the importance of socio-economic and cultural factors over diet, in influencing the production, marketing and consumption of different groups of foods. It places food systems theory on sound analytical foundations and draws critically upon food systems literature. The text includes case studies from the sugar, dairy and meat systems and employs statistical techniques to identify and explain distinct patterns of food consumption. The book aims to help to revitalize the discipline of food studies and point the way forward for the continuing study of food consumption. As such, it should be useful to students, researchers and policymakers engaged in the world of food.

With growing affluence in the developed world, food has become an increasing focus for attention. Here, the authors argue that in order to understand the extensive and dramatic developments in the world of food, a new interdisciplinary approach is necessary. The Age of Affluence successfully addresses food consumption in this way. The volume:
* argues the importance of socioeconomic and cultural factors over diet, in influencing the production, marketing and consumption of different groups of foods;
* places food systems theory on sound analytical foundations;
* draws critically upon food systems literature;
* includes case studies from the sugar, dairy and meat systems;
* employs novel statistical techniques to identify and explain distinct patterns of food consumption;
The book will help to revitalize the discipline of food studies and points the way forward for the continuing study of food consumption. As such, it will be invaluable to students, researchers and policymakers engaged in the world of food.

In the years since publication of the first edition of Food Wars much has happened in the world of food policy. This new edition brings these developments fully up to date within the original analytical framework of competing paradigms or worldviews shaping the direction and decision-making within food politics and policy. The key theme of the importance of integrating human and environmental health has become even more pressing. In the first edition the authors set out and brought together the different strands of emerging agendas and competing narratives. The second edition retains the same core structure and includes updated examples, case studies and the new issues which show how these conflicting tendencies have played out in practice over recent years and what this tells us about the way the global food system is heading. Examples of key issues given increased attention include: nutrition, including the global rise in obesity, as well as chronic conditions, hunger and under-nutrition the environment, particularly the challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, water stress and food security food industry concentration and market power volatility and uncertainty over food prices and policy responses tensions over food, democracy and citizenship social and cultural aspects impacting food and nutrition policies.