The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign

Food hygiene is a crucial aspect of public health, directly impacting societal well-being. From the mid-Qajar period onward, mirroring the broader “medicalization” of public health, traditional folk and religious understandings of food safety were gradually replaced by modern medical teachings. This...

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Main Authors: Matin Sadat Eslahi, Masood Kasiri, Nozhat Ahmadi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_50686_156365e73e34428af2ca563bd7558a2a.pdf
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author Matin Sadat Eslahi
Masood Kasiri
Nozhat Ahmadi
author_facet Matin Sadat Eslahi
Masood Kasiri
Nozhat Ahmadi
author_sort Matin Sadat Eslahi
collection DOAJ
description Food hygiene is a crucial aspect of public health, directly impacting societal well-being. From the mid-Qajar period onward, mirroring the broader “medicalization” of public health, traditional folk and religious understandings of food safety were gradually replaced by modern medical teachings. This research employs a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing primary source documents to examine the components and challenges of food hygiene during the Naseri era alongside government interventions designed to improve it. Key focus areas included water, bread, meat, kitchens, cooks, eating practices, food storage, and fruits/dried fruits. The study analyzes health concerns in each area and the government’s corresponding actions, such as issuing advisory and directive decrees, establishing health institutions, and conducting public health awareness campaigns through print media like newspapers and magazines. The findings highlight the gradual infiltration of new scientific knowledge into traditional Qajar society, supplanting long-established folk practices while simultaneously presenting the inherent challenges accompanying this transition.
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spelling doaj-art-ec318c65baf74ff8b589a9f62c49e0f12025-08-20T03:52:57ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Research on History of Medicine2251-886X2025-02-01141597410.30476/rhm.2025.5068650686The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s ReignMatin Sadat Eslahi0Masood Kasiri1Nozhat Ahmadi2Iranian History after Islam, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranAssociate Professor of Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranAssociate Professor of Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranFood hygiene is a crucial aspect of public health, directly impacting societal well-being. From the mid-Qajar period onward, mirroring the broader “medicalization” of public health, traditional folk and religious understandings of food safety were gradually replaced by modern medical teachings. This research employs a descriptive-analytical approach, utilizing primary source documents to examine the components and challenges of food hygiene during the Naseri era alongside government interventions designed to improve it. Key focus areas included water, bread, meat, kitchens, cooks, eating practices, food storage, and fruits/dried fruits. The study analyzes health concerns in each area and the government’s corresponding actions, such as issuing advisory and directive decrees, establishing health institutions, and conducting public health awareness campaigns through print media like newspapers and magazines. The findings highlight the gradual infiltration of new scientific knowledge into traditional Qajar society, supplanting long-established folk practices while simultaneously presenting the inherent challenges accompanying this transition.https://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_50686_156365e73e34428af2ca563bd7558a2a.pdfmedicalizationqajarfood hygienenaseri erapublic healthhygiene
spellingShingle Matin Sadat Eslahi
Masood Kasiri
Nozhat Ahmadi
The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign
Journal of Research on History of Medicine
medicalization
qajar
food hygiene
naseri era
public health
hygiene
title The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign
title_full The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign
title_fullStr The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign
title_full_unstemmed The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign
title_short The “Medicalization” of Food Supervision in the Qajar Period with an Emphasis on the Documents of Naser al-Din Shah’s Reign
title_sort medicalization of food supervision in the qajar period with an emphasis on the documents of naser al din shah s reign
topic medicalization
qajar
food hygiene
naseri era
public health
hygiene
url https://rhm.sums.ac.ir/article_50686_156365e73e34428af2ca563bd7558a2a.pdf
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