食品与工业微生物学杂志

Positioning Food Provenance And Forensics At The Centre Of Sustainable Food Practices

Abstract

Denis Buttigieg Ftieni*

Food provenance and forensics are vital concepts that foster knowledge about where food comes from and carry out investigations to ensure that foodstuffs and food products are safe and quality. This study aims at examining the effect of food provenance and forensics on sustainable food practices. Three main aspects of sustainable food practices, including social impact, environmental impact, and economic impact, were assessed. A survey was created and randomly distributed to 200 people living in Abu Dhabi, out of which 152 responses were successfully completed. Multiple linear regression revealed a significant positive impact of food forensics on society, environment, and economy, while food providence had a significant impact only on society (p ≤ .05). It was also revealed that food forensics positively and significantly affect nutrition and health, workers' rights and safety, carbon footprint reduction, food loss and waste reduction, and jobs/incomes but had a significant negative effect on corporate profits. Food provenance had a significant positive impact on workers' rights and safety only. It was concluded that food forensics is of greater influence to sustainable food practices than food provenance. Food forensics provides a greater opportunity to foster better nutrition and health, promote workers' rights and safety, reduce carbon footprint, reduce food loss and wastes, and facilitate job opportunities.