In light of increasing calls for environmental policies that reduce meat consumption and promote more plant-based diets (i.e. Meat Curtailment Policies, MCPs), this study aimed to increase knowledge on how consumers may react to these policies. Participants (N = 784) were randomly presented with a small real news piece about an actual law approval referring to a MCP, or assigned to a no-information control condition. The study measured a set of ideological and consumption variables, and support for MCPs. Participants with increased pro-environmental ideology were more positive toward MCPs, whereas participants who endorsed human supremacy beliefs, and who were more attached to meat consumption, were less supportive of MCPs. Despite these associations, reading about the law approval increased participants’ support for MCPs irrespectively of individual differences in ideology and consumption. This suggests that communicating legal innovation on the topic may be used to increase support for policies that promote more plant-based diets.

Little has been said about the disruptive impact that the inability to eat and to participate in mealtimes has for patients with a life‐threatening illness and their families. The aim of the current study is to overcome this gap and shed light on how food and eating practices are experienced by families at the end‐of‐life. An ethnographic research was developed in two Portuguese palliative care units: participant observation was conducted during 10 months and in‐depth interviews were carried out with 10 patients with a life‐threatening illness, 20 family members and 20 palliative care professionals. Food is not only a matter of nutrition in a biological sense, but also an act of giving care to patients with a life‐threatening illness. The findings suggest that food and eating practices affect the processes of relationality and of doing family at the end‐of‐life in Portugal. Attention is particularly paid to gender differences. The study supports recent sociological research which understands the dying process as a relational experience and intends to develop sociological knowledge on the materialities of care.

With the increasing use of social networks, particularly Facebook, a large amount of data is made available. Such extensive and intensive disclosure of public and private matter aspects of individuals’ lives leads to theoretical and conceptual challenges. To answer some of these challenges, it is intended in this article, through the use of a qualitative methodology, to analyse the perceptions that Facebook users have of the surveillance they are subjected to, as well as the identification of prevention strategies that can be adopted. The interaction of these analysis dimensions has enabled the creation of a user typology that it is important, given the very recent nature of the object of this study, to confront and develop through new research.

Vaccine hesitancy presents significant challenges to public health, exacerbated by a lack of cohesive policies in Europe. Recognized as a complex social phenomenon influenced by various factors, vaccine hesitancy threatens health systems and public trust. This paper analyses the political background and current gaps in policies addressing vaccine hesitancy, with a specific focus on the role of healthcare authorities, organizations and professionals in shaping effective responses. The VAX-TRUST project, funded by H2020 and conducted in seven European countries, provides a framework for translating social scientific research into actionable strategies within healthcare settings. Using methodologies such as the Delphi method, the project developed the ASTARE model, which encompasses six dimensions: Awareness, Support, Training, Agency, Recognition, and Engagement. These dimensions guide tailored recommendations to strengthen the capacity of healthcare professionals, organizations, and authorities in addressing vaccine hesitancy, enhancing public trust, and vaccine confidence and uptake. The paper highlights the necessity of evidence-based, collaborative, and adaptive policies that raise public awareness, counteract misinformation, and support healthcare professionals. Effective policymaking requires understanding legislative processes, leveraging scientific evidence, and fostering stakeholder participation. By emphasizing context-sensitive interventions and culturally informed strategies, this study provides a comprehensive approach for health systems to address vaccine hesitancy and improve public health outcomes across Europe.

Purpose: Drawing on an ethnographic research study, developed in three different food assistance initiatives (FAIs) operating in Portugal, this article seeks to explore the elements that characterize them and the main organizational challenges they face.Design/methodology/approach: Participant observation was carried out in a surplus food redistribution charity, a soup kitchen and a social supermarket, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with supervisors of these FAIs. The study followed an inductive coding strategy, and a thematic analysis was developed.Findings: The main results point to an appreciation of the initiatives and the role they play, but they also highlight the existence of several challenges, mainly related to: 1) difficulties in accessing sources of funding, 2) the absence of an intervening state and 3) a scarcity of resources that allow a thorough assessment of their activities and services provided, which weakens the public image of these responses.Originality/value: The development of food assistance in Europe has a long history. Over the past few years, this sector has grown significantly. Nowadays, it is possible to identify several realities around emergency food provision. However, this heterogeneity has not been sufficiently explored in the literature. In addition, there are few studies that report on the variety of initiatives that coexist in Portugal and establish a comparison between them. The current paper intends to overcome this gap by seeking to understand the main models of food assistance operating in the country.