17 which equates it with a minimum package of calories, proteins and other specific nutrients. The precise meaning of “adequacy” is to a large extent determined by prevailing social, economic, cultural, climatic, ecological and other conditions.44 The UN Committee considers that the core content of the right to adequate food implies: the availability of food in a quantity and quality sufficient to satisfy the dietary needs of individuals, free from adverse substances, and acceptable within a given culture.45 In determining adequacy, the individual’s age, living conditions, health, occupation, sex, etc should be taken into account. Dietary needs implies that the diet as a whole contains a mix of nutrients for physical and mental growth, development and maintenance, and physical activity that are in compliance with human physiological needs at all stages throughout the life cycle and according to gender and occupation.46 For example, if children’s food does not contain the nutrients necessary for their physical and mental development, it is not adequate. Food that is energy-dense and low-nutrient, which can contribute to obesity and other illnesses, could be another example of inadequate food. Free from adverse substances sets requirements for food safety and for a range of protective measures by both public and private means to prevent contamination of foodstuffs through adulteration. It means that food should be safe for human consumption and free from adverse substances, such as contaminants from industrial or agricultural processes, including residues from pesticides, hormones or veterinary drugs.47 Adequate food should also be culturally acceptable. For example, aid containing food that is religious or cultural taboo for the recipients or inconsistent with their eating habits would not be culturally acceptable.48 10.2 Availability The issue of food availability concerns whether a country’s supply of food is sufficient. Availability requires on the one hand that food should be available from natural resources either through the production of food, on the other hand, it means that food should be available for sale 44 Para 7 of the General Comment 12. Para 8 of the General Comment 12. 46 Fact Sheet No. 34 47 Ibid. 48 Fact Sheet No. 34 45