what makes food an interesting commodity to study from an anthropological perspective? what makes...
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What makes food an interesting commodity to study from an anthropological perspective?
What makes milk an especially interesting food to study? What is “special” about this food?
How can a holistic approach provide insight into this food, which once consumed, becomes part of our bodies?
How can the study of this one food provide us insights into both our biology and culture?
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
A nutrient-rich food
Vitamin D added Vitamin A added
to fat-reduced milks
No mention of lactose
A “nutritionist” view
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
(Source: http://www.floridamilk.com).
The only mammalian food produced in order to be consumed
Its function is to support the growth and development of nursing infants of a given species
Humans consume milk from other species, and well past the traditional age of weaning.
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
Uses evolutionary theory – asks the question “Is this phenomenon adaptive?”
An adaptive trait (biological or behavioral) is one that enhances reproductive success
How does our cultural environment affect our biological traits?
How do our biological traits affect our cultural environment?
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
The interpretation of other people’s bodies as well as behavior only in relation to those of one’s own body and culture, generally with the view that one’s own is “better” than the other, or that one’s own is “normal” and others are somehow “abnormal.”
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
Composition of Milk from Different Mammalian Species (per 100 g fresh milk).
Protein (g) Fat (g) Carbohydrate (g) Energy (kcal) Cow 3.2 3.7 4.6 66
Human 1.1 4.2 7.0 72
Water Buffalo 4.1 9.0 4.8 118
Goat 2.9 3.8 4.7 67
Donkey 1.9 0.6 6.1 38 Elephant 4.0 5.0 5.3 85
Monkey, rhesus 1.6 4.0 7.0 73
Mouse 9.0 13.1 3.0 171
Whale 10.9 42.3 1.3 443
Seal 10.2 49.4 0.1 502
Source: Webb, B.H., A.H. Johnson and J.A. Alford. 1974. Fundamentals of Dairy Chemistry. Second Ed. AVI Publishing Co., Westport, CT., Chap.
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
Milk composition for each mammalian species reflects their life history needs
Do infants grow slowly to a large size? Do they grow quickly to a small size? Do they nurse frequently or
infrequently? Do they live in a cold climate and need
calorically-dense milk?
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
Human infant nursing (Source: Ken Hammond,United States Department of Agriculture.).Calves of Bos taurus nursing (Source: Wikinoby, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cow_and_calf.jpg).
© 2011 Taylor and Francis
Manatee calf nursing (Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Divisionof Public Affairs).Mouse mother nursing her pups (Source: The New Student’s Reference Work(1914)).