Scientific Imagination and Magical Ingredients: Towards an Anthropology of Technofood

2010 promises to be a pivotal year for producers of food, since the European Food Safety Authority is to publish a list of accepted health claims made on industrial food products. The production of such a list, however, goes not without trouble. In the first section, this paper will outline the controversies and scientific uncertainties accompanying the development of a technological food category (allegedly) providing physical or psychological health benefits 'beyond basic nutrition'. In the second section, food will be looked at through the lens of power. Throughout human history, different authorities have prescribed what one should (not) eat. What is at stake then, when health claims and food become technological? Finally, it will be argued that an anthropology of 'technofood' is possible, by translating the discourse of market, competitiveness and 'optimized health' in terms of techno-scientific imagination, magical thinking and (bio)power.