title: Food and economics.
abstract: A much-needed national food policy will encompass not only the recommendations of the nutritionist, but also those of the economist and the politician-generalist. Decisions and tradeoffs as to goals--as well as means of achieving them--must be made. Should elimination of malnutrition in the population be the overriding goal? Should freedom of choice be maximized? Should present food habits be accepted--or changed? The various objectives are not mutually compatible. For a viable policy to emerge, a blending of disciplines is necessary. The important thing is to ask the right questions of the right people--economic questions of the economist, nutritional questions of the nutritionist, and political questions of the politician. Then, the answers can be put together in a spirit of compromise rather than contentiousness.
mesh_terms: D004467:Economics; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011057:Politics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States