Survey shows consumer concerns about food poisoning and hygiene

Monday 11 February 2002

The Food Standards Agency today (11 February 2002) launches a national campaign to tackle inadequate hygiene standards in catering businesses across the UK.

The campaign – aimed at raising standards across the industry - will target managers of the UK's 370,000 catering businesses with information on how to radically improve standards, and intends to reach employees of all catering outlets via a multi-million pound television, radio and print advertising campaign.

This is the first phase of the Agency's 5-year UK-wide £20m Food Hygiene Campaign, which aims to reduce incidents of food poisoning in the UK by 20% by 2006.

The 2001 FSA Consumer Attitudes to Food survey, published today (February 11 2002), reveals that 12% of UK consumers - 5.5 million people - said they had food poisoning in the last year.

Almost three-quarters of them – approximately 4.2 million - believed their food-borne illness was caused by food prepared out of the home.

The second annual Consumer Attitudes to Food survey also reveals:

• More than half of all consumers (51%) expressed concern about standards of hygiene in catering outlets, a significant rise in 2001 from 42% in 2000,
• Six out of ten consumers who changed their eating habits as a result of a bad experience, said they no longer used that food outlet,
• Almost three-quarters (72%) of consumers' concerns were about cleanliness of the premises, staff or kitchen,
• One-third of consumers were concerned about cross-contamination,
• Concern about standards in mobile outlets has risen sharply - from 18% in 2000 to 29% in 2001,

Many incidences of food poisoning go unreported, with only 24% of respondents who had experienced illness reporting it to anyone. Of those who did, the largest single group (14%) went to their GP, 7% reported it to the outlet where they bought the food, and only 2% reported it to their local council or environmental health officer.

The catering sector (restaurants, cafes, takeaways and fast food outlets) is by far the largest employer in the food industry, with the UK's 370,000 catering businesses employing approximately two million people.

The most recent statistics regarding the enforcement of food safety laws, published in July 2001, reveal that 118,555 restaurants and catering premises broke some food safety rules.

Sir John Krebs, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency said: 'The Consumer Attitudes to Food survey reveals that the levels of reported food poisoning remain unacceptably high.

'Most cases are preventable through simple good hygiene practices like washing hands at regular intervals when preparing food.

'Consumers clearly expect the catering sector to raise their standards, and are refusing to return to catering outlets that they believe to be unhygienic.

'We welcome the support from the catering sector for this campaign and recognise that there are high standards in many catering businesses. By working together, all catering outlets should be able to raise their standards to that of the very best practise that exists in the industry.

'The Agency campaign offers catering businesses a simple way to clean up their act, win back consumers and reduce incidents of food poisoning.'

Television, radio and print advertising will target catering industry employees with the message 'For safer food and better business – Food safety, It's in your hands.'