Food Quality—Definition and a Holistic View

Since the beginning of nutritional research, food quality (nature, class) has been a central theme; a great deal of effort is concentrated on the goal of improving the quality of foods. To which extent this can be achieved, depends among other things on the definition of the term food quality.Food quality represents the sum of all properties and assessable attributes of a food item. Usually this is done by the three accepted categories of quality: sensoric value, suitability value and health value. All three deal with assessments, that is, judgements with a subjective component.In addition to the value-related interpretation of quality there is the value-neutral term in the sense of condition, that is the sum of properties of a product. From this can be concluded that quality is not easily definable scientifically and that it comprises many different aspects. Obligatory and uniform definitions are also made difficult, since those aspects are subject to constant change.Contradictions in the discussion about food quality arise mainly because of self-serving interests of producers, processors and traders of food as well as consumers, since concerning the assessment of simple quality features of products these interest groups often hold quite different views. The existing contradictions can be overcome, if all justified interests are considered, that is, with a holistic view of all the separate aspects.A holistic assessment of quality of food comprises, in addition to the three recognised partial qualities, additional categories of quality which are currently gaining in significance. On the one hand there is a psychological or notional value of food, based on usually difficult-to-explain conceptions, opinions (prejudices) and expectations of consumers concerning a product. Foods are imputed to have certain properties which determine, whether these will be selected and eaten. Without a clear delimitation to this area foods have a cultural or social value. The prestige value of food is determined by food habits of certain population groups as well as by supply and price. Foods that are taboo or that are used as reward get their social value in this manner. The political value of foods comprises aspects like the import of foods and feeds, especially from developing countries as well as production and handling of food surplus and employment of food aid. A further category of quality is the ecological value of foods which assesses the consequences on the environment due to food production and food processing, as well as their manifold interactions and feedbacks.These additional criteria or properties of food are often more difficult to define and to include, since they cannot be identified and measured on the product itself. From this, however, it should not be concluded that these criteria in the spectrum of food quality are not important. Even though single interest groups in the food sector will still get their way in regard to expectations and demands concerning quality, social demands and necessities are gaining increasing importance. Future and social requirements relating to the quality of food are expected to avoid misjudgements by using a holistic assessment.