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‘I know what’s gone into it’: Farmwomen’s conceptualization of food safety in three Canadian provinces. Krista Rondeau RD, MSc Candidate Dr. Lynn McIntyre MD, MHSc , FRCPC Canadian Public Health Association 2008 Annual Conference Halifax, NS June 1-4, 2008. Some context…. Mad cow/BSE
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‘I know what’s gone into it’: Farmwomen’s conceptualization of food safety in three Canadian provinces Krista Rondeau RD, MSc Candidate Dr. Lynn McIntyre MD, MHSc, FRCPC Canadian Public Health Association 2008 Annual Conference Halifax, NS June 1-4, 2008
Some context… • Mad cow/BSE • Widespread concern • Farm income • Food safety • Farmwomen • Live and experience the consequences
Objective • To identify how farmwomen conceptualize food safety in terms of their household consumption as well as the sale of their farm’s products.
Some definitions… • Food provisioning • Acquisition, preparation, distribution, and consumption of food that draws on personal, family, and community resources and supports • Farmwomen • Multiple roles on- and off-farm • Not just “farmwives” or farm operators
Methods • Purposive sampling of farmwomen on a beef, dairy, or other commodity farm; at least 2 children < 18 Y living at home • Recruitment through personal & professional networks
Methods • Semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 22 farmwomen • Nova Scotia – 10 • Ontario – 6 • Alberta - 6 • Photographs of food provisioning supports • Household food security questionnaire
Analysis • Inspired by grounded theory • NVivo 7 • Transcripts & fieldnotes • Identified emerging themes and concepts
Food safety • Emergent theme when talking about daily food provisioning practices • Component of farmwomen’s belief system re.“healthy eating” • BSE not central to their discussion on food safety
Farmwomen’s perspectives on food safety • Unique dual role: producer & consumer • Gatekeeper of the family meal • Lewin (1943) • Influences food behaviour of family members through food channels (buying, gardening, baking, canning, etc.)
Farmwomen as producer • Expert knowledge of Canadian food safety system (standards, regulations, practices) re. primary production • Safe production practices = Pride • Confident in food produced in Canada; suspicious of imported food
“What we grow here is a safe product and if it wasn’t safe, I would not be feeding it to my family.” “At least it’s a product of Canada. You know like that’s a big deal to me. Because I think we have a lot better safety standards than anywhere else. You know like, there’s, everything is scrutinized.”
“I know what’s gone into it” • Reflection of dual role (producer & consumer) • Producer • Expert knowledge • Consumer & gatekeeper of the family meal • Knowing = best way to manage food safety for their family
“The only way to make sure it’s safe is if you’re growing it here and you’re processing it here, then you know what went into that and it should be safe.”
Strategies for knowing what’s gone into it • Growing and raising food for family’s consumption • Commodity • Family garden (personal & extended family)
“It’s [gutting and cleaning home-raised chicken] not a very pleasant job but … why I did it was ‘cause I knew then what, that the meat was, like how they’d been fed and just that it was good meat.” “So that to me is fresh. If I can get it from my garden, that would make a big difference to the quality … as long as it’s, it’s grown proper too. You have to know what you’re putting into your food.” “We also know then [our beef doesn’t] have any hormones or anything in them and that’s been important to us too; for our health and for our kids’ health and so on.”
Strategies for knowing what’s gone into it • Local food producers • Bartering or purchasing • Extended family, neighbours, local growers, processors • Local means… • Food safety regulations have been met • Trust in Canadian food system • Solidarity with Canadian food producers
Food safety and BSE • Emphasized the assertion that knowledge of how food was produced yielded safe products • Beef consumption remained the same or increased
“We know what, we’re actually, we’re growing what we’re feeding those animals, ‘cause they get all corn silage so we know what’s going in, so I guess I don’t have any problems [with BSE] ‘cause I know what they’ve been fed. I see what they’re fed every day so there’s really not an issue.”
Highlights • Farmwomen’s conceptualization of food safety is based on their identity as food producer, consumer, and gatekeeper of the family meal. • Food safety is centered on knowing how food was produced • Canada’s food safety regulatory system safeguards the food supply; trust of fellow Canadian producers.
Farmwomen and food safety Producer & consumer + Gatekeeper of family meal = Privileged perspective of food safety
Farmwomen vs. consumers • Pesticides or chemicals are a food safety issue: 1/10 Canadians (CCFN 2006) • Farmwomen • Discretionary use of chemicals • ‘Natural’ production practices • Niche markets & local, sustainable farming • Do not question the safety of modern, globally competitive Canadian food production practices.
Implications • Farmwomen are allies in healthy eating and food safety initiatives • Farmwomen have a strong and authoritative voice on food safety • Invisible in current policy discussions • Credibility?
