featured in this issue - NZIFST - The New Zealand Institute of Food ...

given specific advice about particular kinds of foods that they
should avoid; but even better if they were told there were certain
foods that they can eat that will help promote their health
and well-being.
Individualised shopping
Thinking further ahead, foods could be tailored to remove
particularly ‘risky’ components for significant groups of the
population (as is already done for, for example, gluten-free
products). In fact, there is no reason why we couldn’t be given
electronic assistance with our shopping. We love choice; free
will is an essential part of being human; so, rather than some
kind of dietary prohibition based on your genome, whoever
does the family shopping could have their family’s genetic risk
factors recorded on a device that is read remotely as they travel
around the aisles. There could be a corresponding traffic light
display on the shelves that signals whenever particular items are
particularly beneficial or risky for someone in the family.
Ethical issues
There are always new moral and ethical issues that arise as
new knowledge is uncovered. If I am aware of the ideal diet
for my risk profile, but choose to eat unwisely and become
ill, should I be eligible for the same level of support from my
health insurance as someone who has been more ‘responsible’
If I have a high genetic risk of developing a certain condition,
should I be obliged to declare this to a potential employer
Should I screen my potential partner before we enter a lifetime
commitment to ensure we are genetically compatible with respect
to our risk-factor genes
The New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and
Technology has recognised the potential for nutrigenomics to
open up new business opportunities for innovative companies
in the food industry. Their funding is building up a skilled team
of scientists that is unpicking the complex web of information
around human genetic variation, food components and disease
risk and providing the capability to lead us into futures we are
only dimly able to imagine.
“Nutrigenomics NZ is a collaboration between AgResearch
Limited, Plant & Food Research and the University of Auckland
and is funded by the Foundation for Research, Science
and Technology”
P R E M I X E S > V I TA M I N S M I N E R A L S N U C L E OT I D E S N U T R A C E U T I C A L S
At Unitech we specialise in customising premix blends
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www.unitech.co.nz
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Product design services
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Tablet manufacturing
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Unitech Industries Limited
38-44 Bruce McLaren Road
Henderson, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone +64 9 835 0835 Fax +64 9 839 0086
Email sales@unitech.co.nz
www.unitech.co.nz
I N N O VAT I O N P R E C I S I O N T R U ST CO M M I T M E N T
February/March 2009
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