"Loss of the culinary tradition of Cangrejada: Preparing crabs at home in Guayaquil, Ecuador"

Abstract

"This study examines cangrejada, an iconic Ecuadorian gastronomic tradition that extends beyond its culinary significance to symbolize history, identity, and cultural heritage, particularly in coastal regions such as Guayaquil. The research aims to identify the factors hindering the preparation of cangrejada at home, segment participants based on these factors, and analyze the relationship between sociodemographic variables and the identified segments. To achieve this, a total of 302 valid questionnaires were collected, and several techniques were applied, such as factor analysis with maximum likelihood extraction and oblimin rotation, which made it possible to reduce the 12 observed variables to three key factors that explain the obstacles to preparing cangrejada: complexity, logistics, and cleanliness. Based on these factors, the K-means algorithm was used on the standardized factor scores to group the participants into three segments: 'reticent' (time, difficulty, and cost of the process), who perceive significant barriers in all aspects, 'uncomplicated (problems obtaining ingredients, utensils, or gathering the family),' who experience no significant difficulties, and 'comfortable (discomfort caused by the mess and lingering odor).' who perceive moderate challenges. A cross-analysis was also carried out between each segment and the sociodemographic variables using chi-square tests. The bivariate analysis showed that the level of education has a significant impact on segment membership. In other words, participants with higher levels of education are concentrated in the 'uncomplicated' or 'comfortable' groups, which suggests a greater ability to organize, plan, and overcome the challenges associated with this tradition. These findings provide valuable insights into the cultural dynamics of cangrejada and can support future initiatives to safeguard this tradition by addressing the specific challenges faced by different population groups. © 2025 Elsevier B.V."