To what extent is culinary taste individually constructed?

According to the author , Japanese food is a fashion in London , a trend which has been picked up by the rest of Europe . The fashion for Japanese food is similar to the fast food fad which began in the U .S (Cwiertka n .d

However , eating certain foods as a fashion can be a product of class distinction in which the upper classes define the taste it is appropriated by the lower classes , and later discarded by the upper classes who thereafter develop a new one as a means to distinguish their

social position from that of the masses (Meyer 2000 . Thus , the fashion creates status for the individual and culinary taste is secondary . The taste is fashioned by a group and imitated by individuals in other groups seeking similar status

Ethics

Harper Benson (2001 , in their report on consumer concerns about animal welfare and the impact of food choice in the U .K , Ireland Italy , and Germany , found that consumer concern for animal welfare is driven by a need for better health and safer foods . Their view on animal welfare was defined in terms of humane deaths and natural lives Further , natural production methods were equated to safer food . However even though most subjects indicated they were willing to pay more for natural foods , this did not translate itself into practice at the food counter

In addition , consumer concern for animal welfare was also not evident in practice . They abrogated the responsibility to the government and animal rights groups , and consumed animal based food which is produced intensively . When consumers bought welfare products , they chose inexpensive products such as free-range eggs , shying away from the more expensive natural based foods . Thus , in the countries under study , the role of ethics in forming culinary habits was determined more by price...