‘I’d never cook it now’: an exploration of intergenerational transference and its role in facilitating family food sustainability

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to develop a deeper understanding of what (un)sustainable food behaviours and values are transmitted across generations, to what extent this transference happens and the sustainability challenges resulting from this for individuals and households. Design/methodology/approach A total of 25 semi-structured in-depth interviews are analysed regarding the value of inherited food, family food rituals, habits and traditions, aspects of food production and understanding of sustainability. Findings Intergenerational transferences are significant in shaping (un)sustainable consumption throughout life, and those passed-on behaviours and values offer opportunities for lifelong sustainable change and food consumption reappraisal in daily life, beyond early years parenting and across diverse households. Research limitations/implications Participants were limited to British families, although the sample drew on multiple ethnic heritages. Future research could study collectivist versus more individualistic cultural influence; explore intergenerational transference of other diverse households, such as multigeneration or in rural and urban locations, or whether sustainable crossover derived from familial socialisation continues into behaviours and values beyond food. Practical implications The findings show the importance of families and intergenerational transference to the embedding of sustainable consumption behaviours. Mundane family life is a critical source of sustainable learning, and marketers should prioritise understanding of the context and relationships that drive sustainable consumer choices. Opportunities for intentional and unintentional sustainable learning exist throughout life, and marketers and policymakers can both disrupt unsustainable and encourage sustainable behaviours with appropriate interventions, such as nostalgic or well-being communications. The paper sheds light on flexible sustainable identities and how ambivalence or accelerated lives can deflect how policy messages are received, preventing sustainable choices. Originality/value The findings provide greater understanding about the mechanisms responsible for the sustainable transformation of consumption habits, suggesting intergenerational transferences are significant in shaping (un)sustainable food consumption throughout life. The study shows secondary socialisation can play a critical role in the modification of early behaviour patterns of food socialisation. The authors found individuals replicate food behaviours and values from childhood, but through a process of lifelong learning, can break formative habits, particularly with reverse socialisation influences that prioritise sustainable behaviours.

(Food) Hoarding

“…In their article "'I'd Never Cook it Now': An Exploration of Intergenerational Transference and its Role in Facilitating Family Food Sustainability," Carrigan et al (2023) explore how "meals and mealtimes are central to constructing family meanings" (p. 6). Biological and behavioural processes during childhood, and memories of food production, sharing, and consumption, can mould food practices later in life.…”

Differences in sustainable nutrition behaviour of different generations of Czech consumers

“…This idea was also mentioned in the article by Leyva-Hernández et al (2023), that sustainable food consumption is based on food education, the purpose of which is to develop healthy eating habits, which is achieved through an appropriate focus of education that encourages the consumption of local and seasonal food, the establishment of urban gardens and the promotion of creativity in the preparation of healthy dishes from local ingredientsshortening value chains, and the creation of distribution channels without intermediaries between consumers and producers, where producers and marketers play a crucial role. Not only food education within the education system but also so-called intergenerational transmissions are important in shaping (unsustainable) consumption across the life course, and these transmissions of behaviours and values offer opportunities for lifelong sustainable change and rethinking of food consumption in everyday life (Carrigan et al, 2023).…”