Galna kor i moderna landskap

Frågor om mat och tillit i det nya Europa

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of contemporary Swedish food scares. Its theoretical framework is the concept of modernity, as developed by Anthony Giddens. Values on food and eating, it is shown, reflect concretely some of the major themes of modernity, such as "reflexivity" and "risk society", and "globalisation". However, a central point of argument in this paper is that the concepts of "trust" and "re-embedding" are of special importance. As a conclusion, the author argues that a growing focus on domestic foods, and equally growing negative consumer values concerning imported foods, reflects a cultural response towards some less desirable effects of the European "open market".