From everyday practices to policy : food safety concerns and strategies among the urban poor in retail environments in Bangladesh

Samenvatting

Food safety literature has extensively examined factors influencing food security and health but often neglects social dimensions such as rural-to-urban migration and urban lifestyles. As low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) expand, urban food safety challenges grow more complex. Migrants settling in urban areas face difficulties in food acquisition and rely on informal outlets with weak regulatory oversight. Understanding these migration and urbanisation-related factors is essential for developing effective food safety strategies. Urban food outlets play a vital role but struggle with substandard provisions and inconsistent safety standards. Research has primarily focused on economic and public health aspects, overlooking social dynamics in food acquisition and vending. Addressing these contexts is crucial for improving food safety among the urban poor in LMICs like Bangladesh.Few studies examine the intersections of urbanisation, food safety, and coping strategies in food procurement and vending. This thesis investigates rural-to-urban migration, urban lifestyles, and food safety challenges, focusing on consumers and vendors in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Using a social practice theory framework, the study analyses daily food procurement and eating-out practices through qualitative and quantitative methods. Chapter 2 explores migration’s impact on food safety practices among the urban poor. It examines food shopping behaviors and coping strategies among recent migrants and long-term residents. Migrants struggle with new shopping practices due to weaker social networks, though their food safety concerns align with those of established residents. Strengthening shopping practices and leveraging social connections can enhance food safety for recent migrants. Chapter 3 examines eating-out practices among the urban poor, identifying snacking and full meals as distinct everyday practices. Differences in affordability, acquisition, and social interactions influence food safety concerns. Despite variations, coping strategies remain similar, highlighting the reliance on available resources. The chapter calls for policymakers to consider practical eating-out realities and improve urban food retail environments. Chapter 4 shifts from traditional knowledge-attitude-practice models to a social practice approach in assessing vendors' food safety management. Vendors strive to meet safety standards but face knowledge gaps and regulatory barriers. Many rely on intrinsic, non-scientific methods and community relationships. Enhancing infrastructure and support programs is crucial for improving vendors’ food safety practices. Chapter 5 examines a connection between poot consumers’ food safety concerns and policy interactions in Bangladesh’s retail sector. While national policies address many concerns, retail food safety policies suffer from inadequate funding and weak local oversight. Policymakers and stakeholders lack awareness of services targeting the urban poor, creating a gap between policy and practice. Strengthening policy implementation could enhance food safety for vulnerable populations. Overall, this thesis highlights how urbanisation and socioeconomic inequality intersect with food safety challenges. Introducing the Intersectional Food Safety Adaptation (IFSA) framework, it examines how migration, socioeconomic status, and spatial constraints shape food practices. It underscores the urban poor’s agency in adapting through informal markets and social networks. Addressing these compounded vulnerabilities in LMICs requires comprehensive strategies that integrate social and spatial dimensions into everyday food safety management.