Reproductive Health And The Industrialized Food System: A Point Of Intervention For Health Policy

Abstract

What food is produced, and how, can have a critical impact on human nutrition and the environment, which in turn are key drivers of healthy human reproduction and development. The US food production system yields a large volume of food that is relatively low in cost for consumers but is often high in calories and low in nutritional value. In this article we examine the evidence that intensive use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, and fossil fuel in food production, as well as chemicals in food packaging, are potentially harmful to human reproductive and developmental health. We conclude that policies to advance a healthy food system are necessary to prevent adverse reproductive health effects and avoid associated health costs among current and future generations. These policies include changes to the Farm Bill and the Toxic Substances Control Act, and greater involvement by the health care sector in supporting and sourcing food from urban agriculture programs, farmers' markets, and local food outlets, as well as increasing understanding by clinicians of the links between reproductive health and industrialized food production.

Toxic environmental chemicals: the role of reproductive health professionals in preventing harmful exposures

“…For example, our industrialized food system is associated with many and varied threats to reproductive and developmental health, including exposure to pesticides, chemical fertilizers, hormones in beef cattle, antimicrobials in beef cattle, swine and poultry, fossil fuel consumption and climate change, toxic chemicals in food packaging and cookware, and the production and promotion of food that is unhealthy for pregnant women. 110 Policy interventions by the health care sector and physician’ patient engagement offer mutually reinforcing opportunities to advance a healthy food system as a strategy to prevent adverse reproductive health impacts. 110 …”

How Developing Nations Can Protect Children From Hazardous Chemical Exposures While Sustaining Economic Growth

“…57 As we described above, sound chemicals management policies are key to the prevention of chronic childhood conditions and their associated costs. Important initiatives include ongoing work to implement the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management; efforts to develop a binding international treatment on mercury; and efforts to reform chemicals policy within individual countries.…”

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture: new term or new concept?

“…Pregnant women in the United States, for example, were widely exposed to agricultural pesticides primarily from food, water, and soil. This can for instance harm the developing brain of the baby, which may adversely impact child mental and behavioral development [62]. In a similar manner, other food system-associated diseases such as described by McDermott and Grace [32] can decrease the ability of mothers and other caregivers to care for their children if their health status is adversely impacted.…”