Reflection of xenophobia on food culture: A research in Germany

Racism and xenophobia began to change after the Second World War and aimed at more cultural features than the physical features of strangers. In recent years, especially in Italy, France and Germany, hostile attitudes and policies are reflected in the food culture of foreigners. Restaurants that offer food from foreign cultures in Italy are blocked or closed. Also in France, halal food debates are flare up. Halal foods are regarded as an Islamic symbol rather than being seen as clean and healthy food, and restaurants that offer halal food are boycotted. In Germany, "döner kebab" which is identified with the Turks, and the consumed intensely in Germany, is named for serial killings. It appears that 10 people from different professions murdered by an illegal and racist organization (NSU) have been called "kebab murders" in the public domain. Especially these events in Europe have been the starting points of the study. Similar examples are common in the world as well as those in Europe. This study that aimed at revealing that prejudice, fear and hostility towards a different culture are reflected in culinary foods and drinks is a qualitative research based on the phenomenological pattern of qualitative research patterns. Half-structured interviews were held with twelve restaurant operators offering Turkish cultural dishes in the Kreuzberg district of German capital, Berlin. When determining the sample, confirmatory or inferential case sample was used from purposeful sample types and data was interpreted with descriptive analysis method. In addition to the restaurant operators, there was an interview to support the research for about an hour with İlker Duyan, Spokesperson of TBB (Berlin Brandenburg Turkish Society) which represent 37 Turkish non-governmental organizations and 86 individual members. It is believed that, this study that has claim to be an original research because of its subject and results will contribute to the science and tourism sector.