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Nutrition Politics and Policy (POPH90293)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
Formerly FOOD90027
This subject critically examines the scientific, policy and political debates regarding the relationship between food, nutrition and health. The social, economic, commercial, scientific and regulatory processes and structures that shape food consumption patterns, the nutritional quality of foods, and the dietary health of the population will be explored. This includes an evaluation of governments’ food, agricultural and nutrition policies.
Topics include:
- The science and politics of formulating dietary guidelines, nutritional reductionism in nutrition research, and debates over definitions of healthy and unhealthy foods
- Changing dietary patterns, the nutrition transition, food security, the “obesity epidemic”, and other health outcomes
- The socio-economic, commercial and environmental influences on food choices and dietary patterns
- The production, nutritional quality, marketing and consumption of highly processed foods and beverages
- Food industry strategies for food reformulation, and the development and marketing of fortified and functional foods
- Food labelling, and nutrient and health claims regulations
- The use of nutritionally-enhanced crops and fortified micronutrient deficiencies
- Dietary guidelines and choices to create ecologically sustainable food systems
- Policy approaches to regulating food quality, food consumption, food marketing, and food industry practices.
The subject will draw upon the disciplines of the sociology and politics of food systems, food and nutrition policy, public health nutrition and public health, and will consider Australian and international case studies.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Describe and analyse the social, economic, commercial, political, scientific, educational and regulatory processes that shape food production quality, food consumption patterns and dietary health
- Describe and evaluate the government policies and industry approaches and strategies that shape food production and consumption with respect to dietary health
- Demonstrate an understanding of the key frameworks, concepts, arguments and debates in the literature relating to nutrition politics and policy
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Additional details
- Essay 1 (1800 words) due mid-semester (35%)
- Essay 2 (3500 words) due end of semester (65%)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 February 2018 to 27 May 2018 Last self-enrol date 9 March 2018 Census date 31 March 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 4 May 2018 Assessment period ends 22 June 2018
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Readings will be provided via the Learning Management System (LMS).
Recommended texts and other resources
Recommended background reading:
- Marion Nestle, Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health, University of California Press, 2013
- Gyorgy Scrinis, Nutritionism: The Science and Politics of Dietary Advice, Columbia University Press, 2013
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022