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2.3 Finnish food
Finnish food culture is multidimensional. Its cuisine characteristics are strongly Scandi-
navian but separated from other Scandinavian countries due to its eastern influences. 
Culturally food is important because it promotes cultural togetherness, strengthens 
identity and maintains the cultural heritage. (Mäkelä 2010; WTO 2013) Overall it is 
Finland’s Nordic location, with its snowy, freezing winters, pure soil and ground waters 

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as well as long, light summer days which gives the Finnish cuisine its special, fresh 
taste. Fish, game and berries are characteristic of Finnish food culture. (This is Finland, 
Fresh from Finland 2013.) 
For the past century food has been in a major role when Finnish values and democracy 
has developed its forms in the society and all of its structures such as in a form of free 
school to all children. During the last few decades food has become a major topic 
among everybody in Finland showing its different dimensions in all aspects of lives of 
the Finns. General interest towards food has risen in all developed countries including 
Finland. This can be noticed everywhere in the society. Consumers all over the world 
have increasingly come to understand that there is a relationship between what they 
have on their plates and what happens in the world. More and more detailed data avail-
able about products has made consumers more aware of the effects of the food 
choices they make. Food scandals keep food in the main stream media. TV offers 
cooking shows, cooking competitions, food travelling programs, celebrity chefs cook-
ing in celebrity homes and restaurant kitchen stories. New food projects start every 
year in Finland like Ny Nordisk Mat, Helsinki Food strategy and Finland’s national 
food strategy. Newspapers and internet sites are filled with articles discussing organic 
food, local production, GMO, small farming and ethical consumption methods. Food 
has become a vessel to convey beliefs, attitude and opinions about consumption in 
general. Food choices of urban citizens reflect their view on life. Personal values and 
health issues are important factors found to influence food choices. (Baker et al. 2004, 
995–1012; Honkanen et al. 2006, 420-430.)