Partner: Grup d'Estudis Alimentaris, University of Barcelona, Spain

Team:
Prof Jesus Contreras (contrer@trivium.gh.ub.es)
Dr Silvia Bofill (bofill@trivium.gh.ub.es, sbofill@pcb.ub.es)
Dr Elena Espeitx (Info to follow)
Dr Mabel Gracia (maga@correu.urv.es)
Alicia Guidonet (aliciaguidonet@wanadoo.es)
Yolanda Lacasta (ylacasta@pcb.ub.es)

Address: Grup d'Estudis Alimentaris, Parc Cientific de Barcelona, C/ Baldiri Reixac 4-6, 08028 Barcelona
Tel: +34 934034559
Fax: +34 934034560
Web: www.ub.es

GRUP D'ESTUDIS ALIMENTARIS (FOOD STUDIES GROUP) is a multidisciplinary scientific team, wich is formed by experts from different social sciences disciplines. It analyse the food behaviours in the present and the past from a wide perspective: social, cultural, historical and nutritional.

The main lines of research are: changes in food practices of consumers; nutritional deficiencies among the consumers; consumer's perception of food safety and new technologies in food production. The study of these subjects is needed to contribute to the promotion and maintenance of health in relation to diet and consumer choice.

These aims only can be reached with an inter-disciplinary research which integrate the socio-cultural and nutritional analysis of food practices.

Role in Project:
• Involvement in Workpackages 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8

Team Profile

The Spanish Team is based at the Observatorio de la Alimentacion at the University of Barcelona. Dr Jesús Contreras is full professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Barcelona. He is the Director of the Observatorio de la Alimentación. His main research interests are focused on the anthropology of food. He works in the Food in Later Life project as the leader of the Spanish team.
Dr Sílvia Bofill undertook her doctorate in social anthropology at the University of Barcelona. She works as a post-doctoral researcher in this department and is a member of the Observatorio de la Alimentación. Her research interests are focused on aging studies and the anthropology of food. She works in the Food in Later Life project as a researcher.
Dr Mabel Gracia is full professor of Social Anthropology at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. She is a member of the Observatorio de la Alimentación. At the present time, she coordinates the study “Body, dieting and health: a crosscultural analysis of the eating disorders between the women”. She works in the Food in Later Life project as a research adviser.
Yolanda Lacasta has a degree on social anthropology. She is currently undertaking her doctorate in social anthropology at the University of Barcelona. She is a member of the Observatorio de la Alimentación and her main research interest are focused on the elderly people and their food practices. She works in the Food in Later Life project as a research technician.
Joan Ribas has a degree on social anthropology. He is a member of the Observatorio de la Alimentación and his research interests are focused on the anthropology of food. He works in the Food in Later Life project as a research technician.