Survey by Food Standards Agency shows drop in concern over BSE and food safety

Monday 17 February 2003

The third annual UK Consumer Attitudes to Food survey, published today by the Food Standards Agency, reveals that just under four out of ten of those interviewed in Northern Ireland (38%) claimed to be eating more healthily this year - a significant increase compared to 2000 (33%).

While fruit, diary products and vegetables continued to be eaten regularly, Northern Ireland respondents were more likely to eat fresh meat and other convenience foods than those in other countries.

Unlike the rest of the United Kingdom, where there was a small decrease in concern about food safety, respondents in Northern Ireland appeared increasingly concerned.

There was a significant increase in the number of respondents in Northern Ireland with concerns about almost every food issue, for example, food poisoning, BSE, and the use of pesticides.

Just under half those interviewed (49%) stated a concern about hygiene in one or more catering outlets. This represents a significant increase of 6% compared to 2001.

Also, the number expressing a concern about hygiene in retail outlets or the home, went up from 38% in 2001 to 50% this year. Concern remained greatest about market stalls selling meat.

However, half of those interviewed felt that food safety had improved and Northern Ireland respondents were significantly more likely to say that food safety had improved than those in the rest of the UK.

Overall, confidence in the role played by the Food Standards Agency has also increased significantly, with 60% of consumers in the UK, now claiming to be very or fairly confident in the Agency's role in protecting health with regard to food safety, an increase of 10% since 2000.

The Consumer Attitudes to Food survey reveals the views of more than 3000 consumers across the UK and the issues that really matter to them.

Although there have been few significant changes in consumer behaviour over the past year, particularly with regards to nutrition, diet and shopping habits, the survey does show that consumers are slowly becoming more confident about food safety and standards.

In the past year there have been significant falls in concern about animal feed (50% in 2001 to 41% in 2002) and the use of pesticides to grow food (50% in 2001 to 44% in 2002).

Mr Michael Walker, chairman of the Northern Ireland Advisory Committee, said: 'This latest survey has some important results for consumers in Northern Ireland. For example, it is very reassuring to note that people are very aware of the need to eat healthily.

'In the past three years the Food Standards Agency has made some headway in the journey to earning public confidence and trust. This annual survey, by continuing to highlight changing opinion about the issues that matter most to consumers, is a valuable contribution to the continuing public debate on food safety and standards.'

Summary of findings

Food safety

Significant decrease in the number of people describing themselves as 'very' or 'quite' concerned about food safety issues (from 71% to 68%).

Lower level of spontaneous concern about food scares, with a fall from 11% in 2001 to 4% in 2002.

Decrease in concern about BSE/CJD, which was mentioned by significantly fewer people in 2002 (45%) than in 2001 (55%).

Food hygiene

No change (at 50%) of people expressing concern about hygiene in any type of catering outlet.

Significant increase in the number of people concerned about fast food outlets (from 18% in 2001 to 23% in 2002).

Fall in concern about safety and hygiene standards of market stalls selling meat and local butchers.

Concern about hygiene in a particular catering outlet continues to lead to consumers not using that outlet again, but only 7% consumers were likely to report their concerns to anyone in 2002, a fall from 11% in 2001.

Food poisoning

No change in the number of people claiming to have suffered from food poisoning in 2002 (13%). As in 2001, this figure is lowest in Northern Ireland.

The majority of those who suffered from food poisoning (75%) attributed their illness to food prepared outside the home.

As in 2000 and 2001, the majority of those who were ill did not report their illness to anyone.

Food labelling

As in previous years, 25% of consumers still believe that food labels contain too little information.

Understanding of information on food labels remains poor, with one in five consumers finding labels 'fairly difficult' to understand, and one in twenty finding them 'very difficult'.

Significant increase in numbers of people looking for information about calories on food labels, from 21% in 2000 to 29% in 2002.

Significant decrease in numbers of people looking for information of whether or not a product is of GM origin, from 25% in 2000 to 20% in 2002.

No change in comprehension of use by/best before date label or ability to identify the main ingredient on a food label.

Healthy eating and nutrition

Significant increase in numbers of people with knowledge of the '5 a day' message - from 43% in 2000 to 52% in 2002, but knowledge by social grade shows that understanding has increased most amongst AB's (70% in 2002) and least amongst DE's (39% in 2002).

Scottish consumers had the highest level of awareness of the 5 a day message (56%), whilst Welsh consumers had the least awareness (48%).

Despite an increase in knowlege, only 27% of consumers claim to have eaten five or more portions of fruit and vegetables yesterday.

No change in numbers of people claiming to regularly eat a healthy diet.

Shopping and eating habits

As in previous years, only 5% of UK households has one or more member who is vegetarian or on a special diet. Vegetarianism is most common in the South East of England.

Consumers in the South of England are most likely to eat organic food.

Food Standards Agency

In 2002, 76% of consumers said they were aware of FSA, a significant increase from 71% in 2001 and 58% in 2000.

The number of people rating the FSA as a 'very reliable' source of information increased significantly in 2002 to 51%, from 22% in 2000.

An additional 37% considered the Agency to be 'fairly reliable' in 2002.

There was an increase in the number of consumers who believe that the FSA is a trustworthy organisation, provides clear information and puts consumers first.

Key differences across groups

Women are more likely to be aware of food issues and more concerned about food safety.

People between the ages of 16-25 and over 66 tend to be less knowledgable and less concerned about food issues.

Notes to Editors:

Research for the Consumer Attitudes to Food survey 2002 was carried out between September and October 2002 by Taylor Nelson Sofres for the Food Standards Agency.

A total of 3173 consumers were interviewed face-to-face in their homes using CAPI technology.