Discussion of Literature Review and Preliminary Data Analysis

Abstract

Chapter 4 begins with an overview of the logical structure of the research plans, and then discusses the literature review found in Chaps. 1, 2 and 3. The literature review for Chap. 1 compared: (1) the bread VCs in France and the U.S.; (2) the bread market and consumption patterns in both countries; (3) public health policies toward the health characteristics; and (4) connections between the bread VC and GI/GL levels. Chapter 2 examined government regulation of food quality from various perspectives: international, French and U.S. Chapter 3 looked at industry regulation of quality in bread, flour and wheat in France and the U.S. A short list of literature gaps was also constructed. The bulk of Chap. 4 is devoted to the preliminary data analysis of the findings from the literature review.

It should also be noted that the literature review was designed to support research toward answering one main question:

“How do VC decisions in bread production contribute to quality characteristics related to human health?”

In addition, three subordinate questions were derived from the main question:

“What effects have changes since 1994 in government policy and industry strategies had on VC decisions by primary producers that contribute to quality characteristics related to human health?”

“How do differences in national food safety programmes in the U.S. and France affect VC decisions by primary producers that contribute to quality characteristics related to human health?”

“Could national food safety programmes provide benefits to primary producers beyond food safety?”

Essentially, answering these three subordinate questions became the focus of this book. The three subordinate questions are specifically addressed in the final chapter (Sect. 8.1).