Food consumption of Syrian immigrants in Malmö, Sweden

Summary

This thesis aims to study the food consumption of Syrian immigrants in Malmö, Sweden, and their habits regarding food. The first goal is to investigate why they eat food from their homeland, as part of a wider perspective of food and its effects on landscape in the city. The research explored a variety of factors that influence Syrian immigrant’s choices of his/her food. The study depended on qualitative research methodology, based on 5 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Syrian migrants. This study analysed the economic, social, religious, and other factors that influence their food consumption habits and the foodscape and landscape character of Malmö. The study concluded that there were many factors, that played a role for the Syrian interviewees that contributed to determine their cultural choices and consumption patterns. They gave me answers about the food habits of the Syrians in Malmö. Although, the study's findings discover that Syrian migrants' food identities play a significant role in shaping the character of the foodscape and landscape of Malmö. Finally, the results provide valuable insights to study the importance of the impact of food on the urban landscape and the need to consider the dietary identities of different immigrant groups when analysing the nature of landscapes. Qualitative research methodology was used in this study, but our results may not be considered generalizable to other contexts.