Episode 581: The Sensory Politics of Food and Autistic Safety

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Recorded11 Jul 2026

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Today’s episode explores the complex sensory politics of food, arguing that for autistic individuals, eating is often a matter of safety and access rather than mere preference. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, challenges social labels like “picky” or “fussy,” reframing these behaviours as necessary responses to an overwhelming environment where smell and texture can be physically debilitating. Dr. Hoerricks highlights how ordinary social situations, such as office lunches, can become uninhabitable spaces when the sensory needs of neurodivergent people are ignored or mocked. Ultimately, she advocates for a world where safe food is respected as a basic requirement for participation, allowing individuals to eat without being forced to defend their survival as bad manners. Her perspective shifts the focus from social compliance to the biological reality of how bodies navigate scent and taste.Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/the-first-autistic-person-the-first-57eLet me know what you think.The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe

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