Food Standards Agency
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Listen to this siteMonday 11 February 2002
In our first survey, for example, your concerns included issues such as BSE, food poisoning, food hygiene and labelling. As a result of that, we decided to launch a major food hygiene campaign, due to begin early in 2002, and a food labelling action plan aimed at promoting clear labelling policies.
According to the first survey, based on face-to-face interviews with 3,135 people across the UK between October and December 2000:
FSA chairman Sir John Krebs said: 'This survey reveals the food issues that matter most to consumers and is a valuable contribution to the continuing public debate on food safety.
'It highlights consumer concerns on food poisoning and BSE. Both are priorities for the FSA over the next five years.
'The survey highlights that less than half of consumers are confident about current food safety measures. It may be a reflection of two decades of food crises but it is an unacceptably low level.
'The responsibility for change rests with everyone involved in the food business. Almost half of consumers think that food safety has improved over the last year, so there are real improvements taking place.
'The FSA will continue to champion measures to improve food safety and consumer confidence.'
Back to topAcross all four UK countries, respondents said they believed that food safety has improved substantially over the past year. The survey revealed that women are still the main shoppers of the household (79%); the elderly are the least interested in food health issues, dining out or using takeaway outlets; and only five per cent of UK households have a vegetarian member. It also showed that besides wanting more information on food-related issues, consumers are interested in finding out more about the Agency, in which half of the respondents expressed confidence.
Back to topAnd it revealed that in Wales, women are the primary shoppers of the household (83%). Compared to the rest of the UK, Wales reported the highest percentage of individuals claiming to have eaten the recommended five or more portions of fruits and vegetables the preceding day.
Back to topOur survey revealed that Scotland remains a nation of meat eaters (96%) with chicken regarded as the nation's favourite choice. Scotland also had the highest level of awareness of the Food Standards Agency and the highest level of awareness of the Agency as a reliable source of food safety information. Respondents in Scotland were also more likely to identify the Agency as independent and unbiased.
Back to topIn Northern Ireland, there was a significantly greater level of concern about food hygiene in takeaway outlets, mobile food outlets and fast-food outlets in general. Respondents in Northern Ireland also had the lowest number of individuals consuming five or more portions of vegetables per day and the highest number of individuals who did not know where to obtain food safety and standards information. Compared to the rest of the UK, more people in Northern Ireland shopped in local shops rather than supermarkets (16%). They also had the greatest likelihood of finding food labels difficult to understand. Northern Ireland consumers had consistently lower levels of concern about food safety issues and specific foods, although in absolute terms, concern in Northern Ireland was still relatively high.
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