Food

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential

nutrients , such as carbohydrates, fats , proteins,

vitamins , or minerals . The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells to provide energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth.

Historically, humans secured food through two methods: hunting and gathering and

agriculture . Today, the majority of the food energy required by the ever increasing

population of the world is supplied by the food industry.

Food safety and food security are monitored by agencies like the International Association for Food Protection , World Resources Institute ,

World Food Programme , Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Food Information Council . They address issues such as

sustainability , biological diversity, climate change , nutritional economics, population growth , water supply , and access to food .

The right to food is a human right derived from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR ), recognizing the " right to an adequate standard of living , including adequate food", as well as the "fundamental right to be free from hunger".

Food sources :

Most food has its origin in plants. Some food is obtained directly from plants; but even animals that are used as food sources are raised by feeding them food derived from plants. Cereal grain is a staple food that provides more food energy worldwide than any other type of crop. Corn (maize) , wheat , and rice – in all of their varieties – account for 87% of all grain production worldwide. Most of the grain that is produced worldwide is fed to livestock.

Some foods not from animal or plant sources include various edible fungi , especially

mushrooms . Fungi and ambient bacteria are used in the preparation of fermented and

pickled foods like leavened bread , alcoholic drinks , cheese, pickles , kombucha , and yogurt . Another example is blue-green algae such as

Spirulina . Inorganic substances such as salt,

baking soda and cream of tartar are used to preserve or chemically alter an ingredient.