Countries in South East Asia are undergoing a nutrition transition, which typically involves a dietary shift from plant to animal proteins. To explore the main drivers of protein consumption, the SCRiPT (Socio Cultural Research in Protein Transition) study recruited a population sample in Malaysia (N = 1604). Participants completed in-person 24 h dietary recalls and socio-demographic surveys. Energy and nutrient intakes were estimated using Nutritionist Pro. A novel recipe-based frequency count coded protein sources as meat (chicken, beef, pork, and mutton), fish, eggs, dairy, and plants (cereals, pulses, tubers). Dietary intakes and frequencies were examined by gender, age, income, education, ethnicity, religion, and family status, using ANOVAs and general linear models. Energy intakes were 1869 kcal/d for men and 1699 kcal/d for women. Protein intakes were 78.5 g/d for men and 72.5 g/d for women. Higher energy and protein intakes were associated with Chinese ethnicity, higher education and incomes. Frequency counts identified plant proteins in 50% of foods, followed by meat (19%), fish (12%), eggs (12%), and dairy (7%). Most frequent source of meat was chicken (16%) rather than pork or beef (1.5% each). In bivariate analyses, animal protein counts were associated with younger age, higher education and incomes. In mutually adjusted multivariate regression models, animal proteins were associated with education and ethnicity; plant proteins were associated with ethnicity and religion. Protein choices in Malaysia involve socio-cultural as well as economic variables.

<!--field: Resume--> L’intérêt des sciences sociales et humaines pour l’alimentation s’est développé quasi simultanément dans les univers anglophones et francophones, mais selon des chemins différents. À partir des années 2000 se développe en effet dans le monde anglo-saxon un mouvement appelé food studies qui opère sur le modèle des cultural studies un recentrage thématique pluridisciplinaire, à l’opposé de l’approche européenne, et notamment française, qui privilégie une perspective ouverte à l’interdisciplinarité mais disciplinairement ancrée. Cet article identifie trois polarisations disciplinaires : la première sur la socio-anthropologie, la deuxième sur l’histoire et les civilisations et la troisième sur la géographie et l’agriculture. Il se propose d’analyser les dynamiques internes et externes à l’oeuvre derrière cette rapide thématisation des études sur l’alimentation. Il étudie les relations qui se tissent entre les food studies et les différents ancrages disciplinaires, les jeux de complémentarité, de concurrences, mais aussi les risques et enjeux épistémologiques pour ces deux voies de développement des études sur l’alimentation. <!--field: -->