Wissenschaftsethik und Technikfolgenbeurteilung Band 25

Abstract

Akademie's working group "Functional Foods" which worked from January 2001 to June 2003. Since the times of Hippocrates, we view "food as our medicine, and medicine as our food"; a view that is confirmed by nowadays science which agrees that diet is related to health, well-being and the prevention of disease. At the same time, food- related diseases have reached epidemic proportions in western societies while obe- sity is spreading rapidly in all parts and strata of modern society. The cost for the health system is significant while the reduction in quality of life is immeasurable. Functional Foods have developed as a possible remedy to this situation assuming a highly targeted solution to diet related diseases with effective reduction of risk and improved physical and mental well being. This book studies the issues involved in Functional Foods from an interdisciplinary perspective focusing on safety, legal/policy aspects, economy, public perceptions and ethics. It provides a thorough analysis resulting in a series of comprehensive recommendations for policymaking that is most welcome in these times of heightened public sensitivity and policy opaqueness in food related issues. I would like to thank the members of the group (Professor Henson, Professor Moseley, mr Koenen, Professor Midden, Professor Palou, Professor Dr Rechkem- mer, and Professor von Wright) and particularly the Chair Professor Chadwick and the Coordinator Dr Liakopoulos, for their excellent work in this report. Bad