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From rational collective feeding to flexible individual choice: the governance of hospital foodservice in transition
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4311-2059
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-4749-2642
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5464-5686
Umeå University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Umeå Centre for Gender Studies (UCGS).ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7878-4309
2026 (English)In: Health, ISSN 1363-4593, E-ISSN 1461-7196Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print
Abstract [en]

In this article, we critically discuss a Swedish hospital foodservice reform by puttingfoodservice in a historical and social context and analyzing a case, “the most flexiblepatient foodservice system in Sweden,” by using Bacchi’s what’s the problem representedto be (WPR) approach. We show how hospital foodservice governance in Sweden hasbecome more focused on the individual patient as a consumer. Our analysis points outhow in political protocols and related policy materials freedom of choice, flexibility,and efficiency were articulated as drivers of change. Freedom of choice was argued toenhance quality, increase food intake, diminish demand for special diets and lower costs.This can be seen as empowering patients, but also shifting part of the responsibility ofnutrition care and health over to individuals, whether they want it or not. Flexibilitywas seen as beneficial for patient logistics regarding medical treatment and argued toimprove allocation of staff resources. Inefficiency was a characteristic attributed tothe old system, while the reform was an opportunity to modernize and be more costefficient.The new organizational structures may lead to tensions between foodserviceand healthcare. The changes, system flexibility and patient freedom of choice, are salientwithin a broader neoliberal discourse.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Sage Publications, 2026.
Keywords [en]
hospital foodservice, governmentality, policy, WPR analysis, patients as consumer
National Category
Health and Diet Studies in Social Sciences Gender Studies
Research subject
Food and Nutrition
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-250320DOI: 10.1177/13634593251407695ISI: 001675073000001PubMedID: 41618120Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-105029172719OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-250320DiVA, id: diva2:2041888
Available from: 2026-02-26 Created: 2026-02-26 Last updated: 2026-02-26

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Rapo, SofiaKautto, EthelHörnell, AgnetaCarbin, Maria

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