ARHIV DRUŽBOSLOVNIH PODATKOV

The Food Study Group Conference has now taken place. Delegates are invited to complete the online Conference Evaluation.



The aim of this conference is to explore the interface between food, society and public health through a sociological lens. Practices and decisions involving food are not solely matters of individual behaviour or action and food and health therefore need to be considered within the context of families, communities, other social groups, and society at large.


Does exploring food allow scholars to look beyond what is eaten to highlight fundamental differences between segments of society? Understanding differences in food consumption patterns could offer wider insights into, for example, social class, ethnicity, self-identity or the life course and the implications of these patterns for social and health inequalities. This conference will bring together researchers, practitioners and policy makers interested in addressing such questions.


Contemporary social, health and food-related policies often link the consumption of food with dietary health and emphasis is placed on the importance of personal ‘choice’. From a sociological perspective, this raises a number of questions that could be explored: do individuals generally connect what they eat with their health (or weight)? Has the pleasure of eating or sharing a ‘good meal’ been forgotten in policy? What are children taking from public health messages about food and health?


It is also important to consider what role government (and the food industry) should play in assuring food safety and editing the food ‘choices’ that are available. What other factors influence our ‘choices’ and where we shop for food? Are there alternative policy options for improving diet and public health?


The format of the conference will allow for in-depth presentation and discussion of key topics along with shorter sessions for the presentation of emerging findings, work in progress and new research from postgraduate students. Abstracts for oral papers, posters and panels or symposia will be considered by the conference programme committee.