Shifting Food Facts: Dietary Discourse in a Post-Truth Culture

The book "Shifting Food Truths" offers a critical analysis of the changing politics of food, eating, and nutrition, exploring the epistemological questions of how food knowledge is shaped and why we see pendulum swings in dietary advice. It proposes a post-truth epistemological framework to understand shifting food truths and challenges the notion of singular dietary truths. The book provides examples of shifting food truths from historical genealogies to contemporary case studies and emphasizes the importance of contextualizing food problems as problems of living rather than individualistic problems of eating. It is of interest to students, scholars, and practitioners in food studies, food politics, sociology, environmental geography, health, nutrition, and cultural studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book provides a much-needed perspective on the changing politics of food, eating, and nutrition by challenging conventional ways of thinking about these topics. It delves into critical epistemological questions about how food knowledge is shaped and why we experience pendulum swings in our dietary choices. In the midst of conflicting dietary advice and nutritional evidence, the book critically examines how healthy eating is framed and contested, particularly in the context of a "post-truth" culture where truth claims are constantly evolving. It explores the potential of a post-truth epistemological framework in critical food and health studies, considering the types of questions it can enable and the benefits of relinquishing rigid empirical pursuits of singular dietary truths.

The book argues that by focusing too narrowly on the distinction between food fact and food fiction, we perpetuate politically dangerous and epistemically narrow ideas of one way to eat "healthy" or "right." It draws on a diverse range of archival materials related to food and health and conducts interviews with registered dietitians to present various examples of shifting food truths. These examples range from macro-historical genealogies to contemporary case studies of dairy, wheat, and meat.

Through a rich and innovative analysis, the book offers new ways of thinking about and acting upon our increasingly complex food landscapes. It challenges our empirical Western reliance on singular food facts by advocating for an articulation of contextual food truths that situate health problems as problems of living, rather than individualistic problems of eating. This approach recognizes the interconnectedness of food, health, and broader social and environmental factors.

The book will be of interest to students, scholars, and practitioners working in food studies, food policy, nutrition, and public health. It provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of food systems, the challenges of navigating conflicting information, and the importance of adopting a more holistic and nuanced perspective on food and health. By challenging our assumptions and embracing a post-truth epistemological framework, we can develop more effective strategies for promoting healthy eating, improving food systems, and addressing the broader social and environmental determinants of health.

Weight: 364g
Dimension: 159 x 242 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138549555