Food Allergies & Intolerances in the UK - Current Issues Essay

Food Allergies & Intolerances in the UK - Current Issues - Essay Example In case of tolerance, the patient can take the small quantity of the food without any reaction at all. In opposite, in case of food allergy, even a tiny quantity of food may activate a severe allergy reaction. Symptoms of intolerance will not be much quicker but allergy symptoms to any specific food could be immediate and instant. Both allergy and intolerance can result in a host of unpleasant and terrifying, fierce and probable fatal outcomes. Symptoms can occur over the patient’s body and can result in rashes, swelling of the mouth, wheezing, inflammation and digestive issues. There is no medical cure for these ailments and avoiding the specific food is the only available relief and a key issue is in identifying that particular food correctly (Stracey 2010). FSA (Food Standard Agency) in collaboration with the DEFRA introduced a new law on labelling of allergen which came into effect 13 December 2014 and this is known as Food Information Regulations EU1169/2011.Under this law, fourteen food allergen has to be named in the label if they have been used or if it contains ingredients made from them in pre-packed foods. Further, food manufacturers have required now to emphasis these allergens within the ingredients list. In the case of non-packed food items, such ingredients should be mentioned on a chalkboard, a labelled menu or by orally (Food.gov.uk 2014). The research study by Cochrane et al (2013) in the UK found that the vegetables and fruits were the chief cause of food allergy in adults (26%), eggs in young children (38%), and cow’s milk was the common in school going children(28%). When one’s immune system is puzzled instead of snubbing harmless food proteins, then food allergy happen as it triggers a reaction, which results in the discharge of a chemical known as ‘histamine’. The main culprit is the histamine which causes the typical allergy indications of swelling or hives. Anaphylaxis is the most severe reaction and this may be life-threatening.  Ã‚  

Management and the Cultural Industries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management and the Cultural Industries - Essay Example Thus, culture is a myriad of different aspects of society including formalized and unofficial systems. (Davey) As culture is evolving constantly by the developments around the society, industries such as the media which include print, radio, television, music, entertainment among others represent the culture of a society and also influence it to a certain extent. These industries, that are known as cultural industries produce cultural texts, which are manifestations of the prevailing, culture for example ‘An American Brat’ by Bapsi Sidhwa is a book that represents the culture of Zoroastrians and how it is affected by moving to a Western country and integrating into a different cultural environment. Cultural industries create cultural texts which can be anything from books to music to newspapers and fashion. In America, during the time of flower power, the music and the fashion represented and promoted the culture of that period expressing harmony and bohemianism. However , cultural industries are influenced by other factors beside the prevailing culture itself such as the political scenario and economic conditions, they are driven by profit and often the texts are dependent on revenue and commercialism rather true creative representations of culture. Thus, this report focuses on the extent to which cultural texts are affected by political and economic factors. Culture and the political economy The political economy approach to culture focuses on how the production and distribution systems governing the cultural industries affect culture and cultural texts. The approach focuses on the interaction of political systems, economics, state institutions, social institutions and everyday life. The political and economic factors in a society determine to a great extent which faces of culture are promoted and which are neglected due to the dependence of cultural industries on revenue and profit and the power wielded by the state. (Kellner, 1999) This approach includes the conflict between the communist and capitalist approach. A capitalist economy would be focused on achieving the most with regards to revenue and thus focus on the popularity and profitability of the text whereas the communist economy would be more sensitive to political power and be restricted by it. However, even in a democratic capitalist setting the state would be involved in media matter regarding products such as cigarettes advertising, thus influencing the content of cultural texts. (Kellner, 1999) THE US AND EUROPEAN APPROACH The two main political economy approaches to cultural texts are the US and the European. The US model is the Schiller-McChesney tradition which focuses on the use of power and information media. The European approach focuses on cultural industries and the ‘commodifying of culture’. It addresses the information and entertainment side and focuses on the creation, production and delivery of cultural texts as well the audience respo nses. It inserts the creators of text; authors, musicians, performers and others in the context of the market. (Cultural Approaches to Economy and the Media, 2010) CULTURAL TEXTS AND GOVERNMENT CONTROL The political economy approach identifies how cultural texts are affected by government control. However, in a free market economy cultural texts generated through cultural industri