Recommended Reading
Atkins, P. & I. Bowler, (2001) Food in Society: Economy, Society, Geography
Belasco, W. (2008) Food: Key Concepts, chapter 1
Flandrin, J-M. & Montanari, M. (1999), eds. Food: A Culinary History from Antiquity to the Present
Fraser, E.D.G. & A. Rimas, Empires of Food: Feast, Famine, and the Rise and Fall of Civilizations
Harding, J. (2010) What Were About to Receive in London Review of Books, Vol. 32, No.9, May available here:  http://www.lrb.co.uk/v32/n09/jeremy-harding/what-were-about-to-receive
Mintz, S.W. (2008) Time, Sugar and Sweetness in Counihan, C.  & P. van Esterik eds. Food and Culture: A Reader
Pilcher, J.F. (2005) Food in World History

Further Reading
Albritton, R. (2009) Let Them Eat Junk: How Capitalism Creates Hunger and Obesity
Brillat-Savarin, J-A. (1825) The Physiology of Taste
Bourdieu, P. (1984) Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste
Clapp, J. (2010) Food
Davidson, A. (1999) The Oxford Companion to Food
Fernndez-Armesto, F. (2002) Food: A History
Fine, B., et al. (1996) Consumption in the Age of Affluence: The World of Food
Goody, J. (1984) Cooking, Cuisine and Class: A Study in Comparative Sociology
Guptill, A. et al. (2013) Food and Society: Principles and Paradoxes
Harris, M. (1986) Good to Eat: Riddles of Food and Culture
Kipel, K.F & Ornelas, K.C. (2000), eds. The Cambridge World History of Food
Lang, T. & M. Heasman (2004) Food Wars: The Battle for Mouths, Minds and Markets
McDonald, B. (2011) Food Security Addressing Challenges from Malnutrition, Food Safety and Environmental Change.
Menzel, P. and DAluisio, F. (2005) Hungry Planet: What the World Eats
Miller, J. and J. Deutsch (2009) Food Studies: An Introduction to Research Methods
Nestle, M. (2007) Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health, 2nd edition
Patel, R. (2007) Stuffed and Starved: the Hidden Battle for the World Food System
Pollan, M. (2007) In Defense of Food