Goody

Industrialization of food has taken place because of the development of preserving, mechanization, transport and retailing. These areas have developed due to the necessity of taking foods long distances and over long periods of time i.e. traveling to the “new world”, this necessity resulted in techniques being utilized such as salting. Salting was a major way or preserving food such as the cod caught in the new world and a way to preserve produce. Pickling and sugaring were also important ways of preserving food. Canning was also an important process that was developed to preserve food. Mechanization of the food preparation process reduced labor costs, increased output and improved quality of food. Canned products were utilized especially by the military in order to bring along food on their expeditions. Canned foods were also expensive that kept them out of the mainstream population and kept them in the private sector. People’s familiarity with a food determined how popular it can be; fruit was seen as poisonous in the newer America despite it being domesticated in the new world and taken from Mexico to Europe (1855). The demands of the military had a huge impact on the food industry such as the shift from glass containers to cheaper metal cans as a result of the Civil War and Crimean war. Refrigeration decreased the demand for preserved and canned food and was preferred by many people. Rail transport was revolution that allowed for the transport of fresh food as opposed to preserved, also the refrigeration with blocks of ice. Many of the food developments of the 19th century had little to do with preservation of food and more to do with advertising and packaging. Mechanization of food preparation took care of the tedious processes and increased production therefore lowering costs and making it more economical for the average person along with the development of the railway systems. There were two retail revolutions: the shift from open market to closed market and industrialization. Large scale manufacturing increased the gap between producer and consumer and therefore a new form of communication was required; advertisement. The increase in industrialization of food increased the homogenization of food; everyone in the same class drank the same tea and ate the same cereal. The control of food quality went as far back as Athens and resulted from public outcry about the quality of food. Adulteration of food was brought under control by medical testing, branded goods and widespread advertising. Developments in retailing saw a decreased demand in customer service, increased self service and the closure of small specialty stores with the development of large scale general stores. The development in the industrialization in the production and processing of food meant that less preparation had to be done by the individual, usually the wife. It was a well accepted notion at this point that special occasions was the only time for foods to be “home-made”. This article has shown how the various revolutions in food preparation, preservation, transportation, availability and price have affected the consumption patterns and need for various foods. Unfamiliarity with a food and high cost was seen to deter the consumption by the public. Industrialization has affected the type of products people consumed as well as the way a food was presented and advertised to the public.