ABSTRACT

Food habits are among the most deeply ingrained forms of human behaviour. Food and beverages, although central to life and very pleasurable, can also carry some inherent or introduced risks of causing harm. This chapter discusses a sociological perspective to explore the interconnectivity between scientific knowledge and public perception about risks in relation to food production, processing and consumption, where scientific knowledge and public perception often contradict each other in what constitutes a risk of harm. Analysing food production and consumption from the societal risk discourse perspective will enhance understanding of foods place within society, from raw material to consumption. It is worth asking why food and health need to be explored from a risk society perspective when it is possible to claim that we live in a safer society than previous generations. Modern food production has become a confusing conundrum causing societal discontent that should be better explored.