CFP: Dietary Pluralism and Differential Treatment

Panel on 

Dietary Pluralism and Differential Treatment

Panel Chairs: Federico Zuolo (University of Pavia) and Chiara Testino (University of Pavia) Panel Discussant: Elena Irrera (University of Bologna)  

Section: The Political Theory of Food & Drink Policies Section Chairs: Emanuela Ceva (University of Pavia), Matteo Bonotti (Queen's, Belfast)  

Although dietary habits can be thought to be constituent of a person's cultural, ethical, and religious identity, few studies have been devoted to analyzing this aspect as a source of possible requests for accommodation of minorities in multicultural societies. This is a striking neglect because ‘dietary pluralism’, that isthe presence of different culturally, religiously, and ethically derived food-related habits, requirements, and convictions, has undoubtedly become a prominent feature that characterizes debates concerning the production and consumption of food in contemporary societies. In particular, two families of issues have acquired an increasing importance from this perspective. On the one hand, one can find requests by vegetarians and religious groups for alternative menus (vegetarian/vegan, halal and kosher menus) in those places (e.g. canteens of hospitals, schools and prisons) where the available meals are subject to public control.

On the other hand, issues of dietary pluralism regard the admissibility of religion-based traditional practices for the preparation of animal products - such as halal and kosher methods of animal slaughtering - that seem to clash with concerns for animal welfare, which inform the regulation of food production across contemporary democracies.

The panel aims at discussing the implications of dietary pluralism for the development of food policies respectful of a plurality of personal choices, cultural practices, and religious prescriptions.

Papers will address the following – or other closely related – questions:

-          Should democratic institutions recognize the legitimacy of minority requests for accommodation of food related habits?
-          Are such requests best interpreted under the rubric of the equal treatment of minorities in multicultural societies?
-          Is the accommodation of dietary pluralism a matter of justice?
-          How can issues of dietary pluralism be made consistent with concerns of food security?
-          Should religion-based issues of dietary pluralism be regarded as instances of freedom of religion? If so, should their accommodation be prioritized over concerns for animal welfare? 

Contributions are welcome from the fields of ethics, political philosophy/theory, history of political thought and legal philosophy. Please submit your proposals (max 150 words) to both of the following e-mail addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] by 19 January 2014.