Food Standards Agency
Saturday 4 July 2009
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We commission an annual Consumer Survey of your attitudes toward food safety, standards, nutrition, diet and shopping. We also carry out a number of regular scientific surveys on the nutrient content of foods and the national diet.
Qualitative research was commissioned by the FSA to explore responses to key messages about listeria among the over 60s and to explore some potential creative routes for the materials being used for Food Safety Week. This research has been used to inform the design of materials for Food Safety Week 2009 and their dissemination.
The Agency conducts a tracking survey among consumers on a quarterly basis to monitor changes in consumer attitudes towards the Agency and food related issues.
A literature review to consolidate knowledge, from the UK and beyond, on public opinion about emerging food technologies, such as genetically modified food and crops, cloning, nanotechnologies, irradiation, functional foods, synthetic biology and novel food processes
The Public Attitudes to Food Issues survey is part of a package of work the Agency is conducting to further understand what people think about food issues, particularly food shopping, healthy eating, food safety at home and when eating out.
Each year we conduct an annual investigation into your attitudes to food, covering issues such as safety and hygiene, nutrition, diet and shopping.
This research was commissioned to explore consumer interest in relation to sustainability issues around food and to help inform the debate on the Agency’s approach to sustainable development in policymaking.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published research into the views of the UK public about cloning animals, and cloned animals, their offspring and their products (such as milk and eggs) entering the food chain.
The Agency has published research carried out to provide a more complete picture of the consumption of vitamin and mineral food supplements in the UK and offer an insight into what motivates people to take such supplements.
Qualitative research was commissioned to explore consumers’ understanding of the nature of minced meat and their requirements or preferences for labelling and descriptors, in particular exploring the terms 'lean' and 'extra lean'.
Research undertaken by Southampton University suggests that eating or drinking some artificial food colours could be linked to a negative effect on children’s behaviour. In light of these findings, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revised its advice to consumers.
To support its saturated fat and energy intake programme, the Agency has carried out research to explore people’s views of saturated fat and energy in their food.
The aim of this research was to inform the development of the Agency's approach to engaging with catering outlets, and the development of possible approaches by businesses.
The Health and Safety laboratory (HSL) was commissioned by the Food Standards Agency to carry out a pilot study to examine the scope for developing practical tools for regulators and policy makers that characterise and quantify public concern over food related hazards, with a view to informing risk communication practice.
In July 2007, the Agency commissioned research to investigate consumer views of the importance of country of origin labelling, why it is considered important, what food products it would most likely be used on and what specific information consumers want about country of origin to be included on the label.
This qualitative research, commissioned in May 2007, looks at consumer knowledge of and attitudes towards meat hygiene.
In May 2006 research was conducted to explore how members of the public feel about the issues surrounding BSE and atypical scrapie in sheep and goats and the possible risks to human health.
In order to inform an EU Review of food labelling legislation, the Agency commissioned research into consumer views about ingredients listing on alcoholic drinks bought from retail. The second part of the research explored more generally the information consumers would like be provided for food bought online or by mail order.
The Agency commissioned this research to gather more evidence of the quantity and frequency of fruit peel consumption.
Research was conducted to explore the consumption of 'free from' foods amongst those with an allergy/intolerance and those without, consumer understanding of such terms was also explored.
This survey explores consumer understanding and perceptions of minced meat composition and labelling, it was commissioned by the Agency in March 2007.
The Agency commissioned qualitative research to explore consumer awareness and understanding of The Meat Products Regulations, Regulation 5 (MPR5) meat products and the ingredients which are added to them, and subsequently preferences for the labelling of them.
In March 2007 the Agency commissioned research to help explore consumer understanding and perceptions of meat products which fall within the Meat Products Regulations, using ham as the example.
In February 2007 the Agency commissioned a survey of 7-16 year olds to investigate their views about food and healthy eating . The questions were adapted from the Agency's annual Consumer Attitudes Survey to enable comparison with adults.
In January 2007, the agency commissioned research to assess shoppers' understanding of the term 'local food' and how important buying local food is to UK consumers.
The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution in 2005 that Member States should inform healthcare workers, parents and other caregivers about best practices for preparation, use and handling of powdered infant formula.
The Agency commissioned qualitative research to establish the information needs of teenagers and young people with food allergies and intolerance, and to explore how best these needs can be met and how better to communicate with children and young people.
The FSA requires insight into consumer's concerns about food, their attitudes to food scares and how these have changed, to help it determine how best to inform the public and address fears.
In March 2004 the Agency funded research to improve its understanding of people's concerns about pesticides. The research found differing levels of concern among the public, but it was clear that most people did not have a good understanding of pesticides.
This research was commissioned to discover the views of mothers of young babies about the issue of semicarbazide (SEM).
Recent FSA research has highlighted the fact that messages about healthy eating are not getting though to a range of groups, including young people. As a consequence of this, and other studies, the FSA is to launch an initiative to promote healthy eating amongst this age group.
COI Communications commissioned qualitative research on behalf of the Food Standards Agency to explore public perceptions of some of the fundamental issues in food purchase and consumption.
The report is a result of our focus group activity into public perceptions about and attitudes towards various key issues surrounding GM food.
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