[New from the Press] Packaged Food, Packaged Life: Corporate Food in Metro Manila Slums

New book Packaged Food, Packaged Life examines the sociohistorical roots of corporate packaged food consumption in Metro Manila slums

The Ateneo University Press and Kyoto University Press are proud to announce that the new book Packaged Food, Packaged Life: Corporate Food in Metro Manila Slums by Heriberto Ruiz Tafoya is now available.

Author Heriberto Ruiz Tafoya delves into the consumption of packaged food diets in the global south, with a focus on Metro Manila slums. In Packaged Food, Packaged Life, Tafoya argues that the prevalence of corporate food brands in these communities is not simply a matter of individual choice, but is instead the result of historical circumstances that limit opportunities for a better life.

Drawing on his own experiences as urban poor in Mexico and from a wealth of existing literature, Tafoya identifies the constraints that shape a “packaged life” not as a fixed status but as an ongoing process. His unique perspective is informed by the Latin American ethical and political approach to “buen vivir (living well)” and its Philippine counterpart “ginhawa (vital spirit that animates our well-being),” which emphasizes a fullness of life beyond mere material possessions.  

The book is divided into four parts, examining the historical roots of packaged food consumption, the circulation of corporate packaged food, the impact of packaged life on individuals and communities, and “unpacking” life from the bottom up.

Packaged Food, Packaged Life is an essential read for anyone interested in the study of the retail and consumption of packaged food, particularly in marginalized communities. From its extensive fieldwork and analysis, it provides a reliable reference for scholars, educators, civic workers, and others interested in the subject.

Packaged Food, Packaged Life: Corporate Food in Metro Manila Slums by Heriberto Ruiz Tafoya is co-published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press and Kyoto University Press.

Category: Politics and Society
Language: English
Price: P300.00
Get your copy in paperback: website | Lazada and Shopee stores

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About the Author

Born in Mexico City, Heriberto Ruiz Tafoya received his doctoral degree in economics from Kyoto University. He is guest associate researcher at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at Kyoto University and researcher at the Institute of Social Theory and Dynamics in Hiroshima.