Urban food environments and cultural adequacy: the (dis)assemblage of urban halal food environments in Muslim minority contexts

Cultural adequacy has been largely neglected in urban food environment research. In times of multiculturalism, this is an obvious shortcoming. To address questions cultural adequacy, research needs to broaden its theoretical scope. The conventional approach environments as constituted through the presence or absence specific foods particular neighborhoods especially insufficient. This argument illustrated by empirical case studies examining halal Brasília (Brazil) and Frankfurt am Main (Germany). Drawing on assemblage thinking, we show that Muslim minority contexts are not determined mere but depend how understood. Furthermore, these outcomes complex assembling dis/reassembling practices, including crucial role invisibilization foods. Invisibilization, turn, driven market logics, entrepreneurial fear prejudices, regulations disregard Muslims’ needs. Invisibilization therefore likely disassemble numerous other contexts. Findings imply thinking helps unpack societal relations bring about culturally (in)adequate environments, so would benefit from taking it board.