Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract This paper argues that food has become an increasingly important topic in British historiography. To frame this historiographical analysis, the paper focuses on the “nutrition transition” in Britain, which took place between around 1750 and 1950. This transition marked a shift towards a diet rich in refined wheat, sugar, dairy and meat. The paper explores various phenomena related to the nutrition transition, notably changes in the standard of living, the relationship between the state and the economy, the impact of war, and the development of globalization. These various historical developments have all become rich areas for historiographical analysis and debate. In general, we can observe a historiographical drift from “social” approaches to the history of food through “cultural” ones to today’s situation, which is one of methodological innovation and profusion. This situation suggests that some of the most interesting writing on British history is currently about food.
Chris Otter (Thu,) studied this question.