Framings of Science and Ideology: Organic Food Labelling in the US and Sweden

• Published in: Environmental politics Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 612 - 634
• Main Authors: Klintman, Mikael, Boström, Magnus
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.10.2004
• Subjects: Agricultural and food market; Comparative analysis; Descriptive labeling; Discourse; Environment; Food Industry; Frame Analysis; Government Regulation; Ideologies; Labelling; Natural & organic foods; NATURAL SCIENCES; NATURVETENSKAP; Organic produce; Retail trade; Samhällsvetenskap; Science; Social Sciences; Sociologi; Sociologi (exklusive socialt arbete, socialpsykologi och socialantropologi); Sociology; Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology); Sweden; U.S.A; United States of America; United States; Sweden; US; USA
• ISSN: 0964-4016; 1743-8934; 1743-8934
• DOI: 10.1080/09644010142000229061

Organic food labelling debates in Sweden and the USA are examined in order to compare two different policy discourse climates on the basis of interviews, documents, and websites of governmental and non-governmental organisations. Framings in the Swedish debates mainly take place through eco-pragmatic metaframing, aimed at consensus, and based on a mixture of undefined scientific and ideological framings. The American examples indicate more adversarial, inter-frame controversies, with polarised framings of science and ideology. The article highlights the different pathways towards frame-resolution. The different opportunities and dilemmas of each are discussed. Increased awareness of the interdependence of ecology and politics need not entail public resignation that policy decisions are inevitably arbitrary.