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 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.

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

Medicalization , Qajar , Food hygiene , Naseri era , Public Health , Hygiene