I would like to demonstrate here that it does seem legitimate to address the question of the
relationship between identity and food from such a point of view. Major theoretical problems are
raised, if only because the notion of identity is itself somewhat problematic. Without tackling
these problems directly, and without for a moment claiming to resolve the whole set of questions
that is raised, I shall simply try to adopt an "integrative" approach, integrative in the sense that
there is a need to bring together the scattered images of biological man and social man.