The reading looks at the progression of exotic foods from exotic to ordinary everyday commodities. The reading analyses how foreign goods take meaning in different aspects of life, rituals, ceremonies and etc... The term "inside" is coined to refer to changes of meanings within rituals, schedules inside and outside the meal. Hospitality was used as an example. The way new foods are integrated to hospitality, or the phenomen of the marriage cake serve as more specific examples. As for the wedding cake, it became a good of higher status but did not have a changing impact on the ritual of marriage. The same can be said of candles at important events.
The text also goes further into analysis of the social context of sugar. The rich and powerful took great pleasure in sugar, which showed social validation, affiliation and distinction. At the same period, sugar was believed to have medical qualities.
Going back and deeper into sugar prices. The earliest recorded prices (1264) ranged from one to two chillings per pound. It would later drop to three to four pence per pound. Overproduction would later keep prices low.
Through various happenings people came to believe that lower prices would result in lower profits "without any compensation in the form of increased sales." Mosely and George Potter argued demmand should increase as people believe in widespread benefits of sugar.
-In efforts to improve conditions of slaves, humanitatrians improved conditions by enforcing standards of feeding to slaves. It did not imporove the quota much considering the amount commanded was still fairly low and measures were not taken to follow that slave owners followed through. Some slave owners still would go without feeding their slaves, or require that they grow their own food on sundays and saturdays.