‘FOOD, SOCIETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH’: A BSA FOOD STUDY GROUP CONFERENCE

‘FOOD, SOCIETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH’

A BSA FOOD STUDY GROUP CONFERENCE
Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th July, 2008
The British Library Conference Centre, London

Keynote speakers: Claude Fischler, EHSS and CNRS, Paris and Allison James,
University of Sheffield

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.

Further details and abstract submission form available from:
www.britsoc.co.uk/events/food

The abstract submission deadline is Friday 29th February 2008.
Abstracts received after this date will not be considered.

Please direct any administrative enquiries to liz.jackson@britsoc.org.uk
and any academic enquiries to w.j.wills@herts.ac.uk.