1. Foods I Obj. 5.01 External Influences on Food Choices
is the link for “‘How truthful is that information”?
Handout sheet
The How Truthful is that information is an extra activity if computer access is available.
5.01I External Influences 1

2. Media
The media acquaints you with, reminds you of, and informs you about food products.
The quality of the information from the media ranges from excellent to totally worthless and harmful.
Print
Newspaper
Magazines
Books
Radio
Television
Internet
Food Ad Tricks
Fast Food: Ads vs. Reality
The media acquaints you with, reminds you of, and informs you about food products and nutrition issues. The quality of the information from the media ranges from excellent to totally worthless and harmful.
5.01I External Influences 2

3. Advertising
Clip an advertisement for a food product from a newspaper or magazine and glue on to your piece of white paper. Answer the following questions.
1. Why did you choose this advertisement? What drew your eye to this advertisement?
2. Is this a new food product or one that has been available for some time?
3. Describe the techniques (color, text shapes, pictures) used to encourage you to buy this product.
4. What useful information does this advertisement give you about the product?
5. After seeing this ad, would you be interested in using this product? Explain why or why not.

4. Economic Influences Food’s availability Demand Price
Although food is becoming more expensive in the United States, there is enough food.
That is not the case in other countries.
Demand
Seafood is now more widely included in American diets, a fact that has resulted in decreasing numbers of fish that are available close to shore.
Price
When the demand for a food increases, the cost generally rises.
Although food is becoming more expensive in the United States, there is enough food. That is not the case in other countries. Seafood is now more widely included in American diets, a fact that has resulted in decreasing numbers of fish that are available close to shore. When the demand for a food increases, the cost generally rises.
5.01I External Influences 4

5. Environmental Influences
Ecological factors include
the type of soil,
the amount of rainfall and
other climatic conditions.
Ecological factors
Climate issues
Land availability
Ecological factors include the type of soil, the amount of rainfall and other climatic conditions. The social factors include what is considered acceptable in the culture in which one lives.
5.01I External Influences 5

6. Technological Influences
Food processing includes
additives that enhance shelf life, nutritional value and food quality.
Food preparation includes
equipment such as microwaves, convection oven commercial equipment is now available to homeowners.
Biotechnology Advancements
Ability to make foods less prone to bruising, mold, etc.
Century of Food
Technology
Food processing includes additives that enhance shelf life, nutritional value and food quality.
Food preparation includes equipment such as microwaves, convection oven commercial equipment is now available to homeowners.
5.01I External Influences