Trust in Our Food: Understanding Food Supply Systems from edX

Can you trust your food? This course will help you understand the global food supply systems responsible for delivering safe, nutritious, high-quality, sustainable food to your plate. You’ll explore the processes and the people involved, reflect on what we mean by ‘trust’ and uncover the important role the consumer plays in improving the supply chain.

Is my food safe?

You’ll discover the regulations in place to ensure the food you buy is safe to eat whether it’s produced within Europe or further afield and explore the food scandals that shaped the legislation before reflecting on the risks foods might pose to our health and analysing your level of trust.

Is my food nutritious?

Learn all about food labels and what they can tell you about the processes involved in making products as well as the ingredients they contain. Understand the evidence producers must provide before they can make claims about their products and discover how to analyse food headlines so you can make informed choices.

Is my food sustainable?

You’ll discover ways you can find out by exploring assurance schemes, weigh up the various factors that influence how ethical production processes are and discuss how to take action to make a difference through consumer choice.

What's inside

Learning objectives

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
Describe the complexity of the global food system and the issues that affect consumer trust in food
Identify the key factors involved in food safety
Assess different sources of nutritional information

Synthesise the different food labels that provide assurances to consumers
Debate how your choices reflect your values
Reflect on the role of the consumer in influencing the food supply system

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
Describe the complexity of the global food system and the issues that affect consumer trust in food
Identify the key factors involved in food safety
Assess different sources of nutritional information
Synthesise the different food labels that provide assurances to consumers
Debate how your choices reflect your values
Reflect on the role of the consumer in influencing the food supply system

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the global food supply systems, which helps consumers understand where their food comes from and how it is produced

Examines food labels and nutritional information, which empowers consumers to make informed choices about the food they purchase

Discusses assurance schemes and ethical production processes, which enables consumers to make more sustainable food choices

Investigates the regulations in place to ensure food safety, which helps consumers understand the measures taken to protect their health

Reflects on the role of the consumer in influencing the food supply system, which encourages active participation in improving food systems

Requires learners to reflect on their values and debate how their choices reflect those values, which may be challenging for some learners

Reviews summary

Trust in food: relevant and engaging, some data needs update

According to learners, this course provides a largely positive and comprehensive introduction to understanding global food supply systems. Students found the course content to be highly relevant and valuable, covering important topics like safety, nutrition, and sustainability. The structure was frequently described as well-organized and easy to follow, with praise for knowledgeable and engaging presenters. Many reviewers found the course fascinating and enjoyable, including interesting exercises and challenging quizzes. However, a few recent reviewers noted that some of the statistics and data presented are outdated, suggesting an area for potential improvement. Overall, the course is seen as a great overview for those interested in the complex world of food supply.

Exercises and quizzes are interesting.

"...with interesting exercises."

"It was thought provoking and practical."

"Excellent course, well-structured, fascinating, enjoyable."

"knowledgeable presenters, engaging, clear."

"Well structured, enjoyable, challenging quizzes..."

Instructors are clear, expert, and engaging.

"...good presenters, highly recommended."

"The content is very clear, knowledgeable presenters..."

"...clear and engaging teaching..."

"The course was very well-presented."

"knowledgeable presenters, engaging..."

Organized, easy to follow, logical flow.

"...well-structured, good presenters, highly recommended."

"Excellent course, well-structured, fascinating, enjoyable."

"...easy to follow and well-structured..."

"Well structured, enjoyable, challenging quizzes..."

Content is highly relevant to key issues.

"...relevant topics (sustainability, waste), highly recommended."

"This course is excellent and relevant."

"...a highly relevant and useful course."

"It covers key issues of food safety, nutrition and sustainability and is a very good overview..."

"The course was informative and relevant..."

Some statistics and data are old.

"...data presented are old..."

"...some of the data is outdated (2016/2017)."

"...unfortunately data is outdated (2016/2017)."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Trust in Our Food: Understanding Food Supply Systems with these activities:

Review Basic Food Science Concepts

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Refresh your understanding of basic food science principles to better grasp the complexities of food safety, nutrition, and sustainability discussed in the course.

Browse courses on Food Science

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Review key concepts in food chemistry.
Study basic principles of food microbiology.
Familiarize yourself with common food processing techniques.

Read 'Food Rules' by Michael Pollan

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Gain insights into making informed food choices and understanding the impact of consumer decisions on the food supply system.

View Food Rules on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key rules.
Reflect on how these rules apply to your own eating habits.
Consider how these rules relate to the course's topics.

Create a Food Label Analysis

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Deepen your understanding of food labels and nutritional information by analyzing the labels of common food products.

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Select 3-5 food products with diverse labels.
Analyze the nutritional information and claims.
Research the ingredients and their potential impacts.
Write a short report summarizing your findings.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Volunteer at a Local Food Bank

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Gain firsthand experience with food distribution and access issues by volunteering at a local food bank.

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Contact a local food bank to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Participate in food sorting, packing, or distribution activities.
Reflect on your experience and its connection to food security.

Trace the Supply Chain of a Food Product

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Explore the complexities of the global food system by tracing the supply chain of a specific food product from origin to consumer.

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Choose a food product with a complex supply chain.
Research the origin of the ingredients.
Identify the key players in the supply chain.
Map the flow of the product from farm to table.
Present your findings in a visual format.

Read 'The Omnivore's Dilemma' by Michael Pollan

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Understand the complexities and ethical considerations of the modern food system.

View The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of... on Amazon

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Read the book and highlight key arguments.
Consider the different perspectives presented in the book.
Discuss the book's themes with others.

Design a Sustainable Food Label

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Apply your knowledge of food labels and sustainability to design a label that effectively communicates ethical and environmental information to consumers.

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Research existing sustainable food labels.
Identify key information to include on your label.
Design a visually appealing and informative label.
Explain the rationale behind your design choices.

Career center

Learners who complete Trust in Our Food: Understanding Food Supply Systems will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Food Safety Auditor

A Food Safety Auditor ensures that food production facilities comply with safety regulations and standards. This course helps provide an overview of the global food system and the regulations in place to ensure food safety, which is crucial for an auditor. Through the course's exploration of food scandals and their impact on legislation, those in this role learn the history of regulation. Also, the course helps those in the role understand the complexities of the global food system, which will help them carry out audits effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food Safety Auditor

Quality Assurance Manager

A Quality Assurance Manager oversees the processes and procedures to ensure that food products meet certain quality standards. The course helps broaden understanding of the global food supply systems, which is essential for maintaining quality across different production stages. The course's coverage of food labels directly translates to assessing product information and claims. Also, the course's focus on consumer trust and ethical production processes helps Quality Assurance Managers to implement practices that align with consumer values and expectations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Manager

Regulatory Affairs Specialist

A Regulatory Affairs Specialist ensures that a company's food products comply with all relevant laws and regulations. The course's deep dive into the regulations that govern the food industry is directly relevant to this role. The course's exploration of food scandals and the resulting legislation prepares those in this role to be adept at understanding the history of food regulations. Also, the course may help one learn about the complexities of the global food system to proactively address potential regulatory issues.

See salaries and explore the career path for Regulatory Affairs Specialist

Food Scientist

Food Scientists typically research and develop new food products and improve existing ones, with a focus on safety and nutrition. This course can help one learn how to assess different sources of nutritional information, which is essential for product development. The course's exploration of food labels and their significance helps those in this role understand how to communicate product information effectively. Also, the course's examination of the global food system helps Food Scientists to consider the broader implications of food production and consumption.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food Scientist

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers develop and implement sustainable practices within food production and supply chains. This course will help those seeking the role to discover ways to find out about the sustainability of food, exploring assurance schemes. The course's discussion of ethical production processes helps one weigh the various factors that influence ethical production. Also, the course will help one in the role learn how to take action to make a difference through consumer choice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Consumer Advocate

Consumer Advocates represent the interests of consumers in food-related issues. This course helps to learn about the global food system and the factors that affect consumer trust. The course helps one learn to assess different sources of nutritional information. Also, the course will help one in this role debate how consumer choices reflect values and influence the food supply system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consumer Advocate

Agricultural Consultant

Agricultural Consultants provide advice and guidance to farmers and food producers on improving their practices. This course will help those in the role understand the global food system and the issues that affect consumer trust in food, which is essential for providing informed recommendations. The course's exploration of assurance schemes and ethical production processes will help Agricultural Consultants advise on sustainable practices. In addition, the course will help one in this role learn about the role of the consumer in influencing the food supply system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agricultural Consultant

Supply Chain Analyst

Supply Chain Analysts examine and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of food supply chains. This course will help one seeking this role describe the complexity of the global food system. The course will help one learn about the issues that affect consumer trust in food. Also, the course may help those seeking this role reflect on the role of the consumer in influencing the food supply system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Supply Chain Analyst

Food Production Manager

A Food Production Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a food processing or manufacturing plant, ensuring efficient and safe production. This course may help one learn about the global food system, which is essential for understanding the context of production processes. The course's coverage of food safety regulations and standards helps Food Production Managers maintain compliance. Also, the course may help those in this role learn to synthesize the different food labels that provide assurances to consumers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food Production Manager

Community Nutritionist

A Community Nutritionist educates the public about healthy eating habits and promotes nutrition-related health initiatives within a community. This course may help one learn to assess different sources of nutritional information, which is essential for providing accurate guidance. The course's exploration of food labels will help Community Nutritionists interpret product information and claims. Also, the course may help Community Nutritionists debate how consumer choices reflect values and influence the food supply system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Nutritionist

Public Health Inspector

A Public Health Inspector enforces health and safety regulations in food establishments to protect public health. This course may help those in the role identify the key factors involved in food safety, which is critical for conducting inspections. The course also covers the regulations in place to ensure food safety. Also, the course may help develop an understanding of the complexities of the global food system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Inspector

Restaurant Manager

Restaurant Managers are responsible for overseeing all aspects of a restaurant's operations, including food safety, quality, and customer satisfaction. This course may help one identify the key factors involved in food safety, which is essential for ensuring a safe dining environment. The course's overview of nutritional information will help Restaurant Managers make informed decisions about menu offerings. Also, the course may help Restaurant Managers reflect on the role of the consumer in influencing the food supply system.

See salaries and explore the career path for Restaurant Manager

Food Blogger

Food Bloggers create content about food, recipes, and the food industry, often influencing consumer choices. This course may help those looking to pursue the role learn about the global food system and the issues that affect consumer trust in food. The course's overview of food labels and nutritional information will help Food Bloggers provide informed commentary. Also, the course may help one debate how consumer choices reflect values.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food Blogger

Grocery Store Manager

Grocery Store Managers oversee the operations of a grocery store, including food safety, inventory management, and customer service. This course may help one learn about the global food system. The course's overview of food labels will help Grocery Store Managers manage inventory and provide accurate information to customers. Also, the course may help Grocery Store Managers debate how consumer choices reflect values.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grocery Store Manager

Catering Manager

Catering Managers oversee the planning, preparation, and execution of food services for events and functions. This course may help one identify the key factors involved in food safety, which is essential for providing safe and high-quality catering services. The course's overview of nutritional information will help Catering Managers make informed decisions about menu planning. Also, the course may help Catering Managers debate how consumer choices reflect values.

See salaries and explore the career path for Catering Manager

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Trust in Our Food: Understanding Food Supply Systems.

The Omnivore's Dilemma

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Explores the complexities of the American food system and the choices consumers face. It provides a critical analysis of industrial agriculture and its impact on health and the environment. It valuable resource for understanding the ethical and environmental considerations related to food production. It adds depth to the course's discussion of sustainability and consumer responsibility.

The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four...

Kindle Edition

Food Rules

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Offers simple, practical rules for eating well and navigating the complexities of the modern food system. It provides a consumer-friendly perspective on making informed food choices. It valuable resource for understanding the impact of food choices on health and sustainability. It complements the course's focus on consumer trust and ethical food production.

Trust in Our Food

Understanding Food Supply Systems

What's inside

Learning objectives

Traffic lights

Save this course

Reviews summary

Trust in food: relevant and engaging, some data needs update

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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