Food safety social science research

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• Evaluation of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and Food Hygiene Information Scheme

  Wednesday 20 March 2013

  The aim of this project is to assess the impacts of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) and Food Hygiene Information Scheme (FHIS) on consumers, businesses, local authorities, food hygiene compliance and public health; and to assess how and why impacts are occurring.

• Consumer attitudes to GM labelling

  Wednesday 9 January 2013

  The Food Standards Agency has published findings of qualitative and quantitative research looking at consumer attitudes to the labelling of genetically modified (GM) food and the use of 'GM-free' labelling.

• Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and Food Hygiene Information Scheme – Display of ratings and inspection results at food business premises in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland

  Thursday 10 May 2012

  The objective of this research was to provide an estimate of the number of businesses voluntarily displaying Food Hygiene Ratings in England and Northern Ireland and Food Hygiene Inspection ‘Pass’ results in Scotland and the reasons why they are/are not displaying them.

• Research exploring domestic kitchen practices

  Tuesday 24 January 2012

  This project will study actual food practices in the domestic kitchen. Researchers seek to record and analyse these practices, and the factors that underlie them, to allow an assessment of their potential impact on food safety.

• Evaluation of the display of the FSA Food Hygiene Rating Scheme in Wales

  Wednesday 14 December 2011

  The Food Standards Agency Wales has commissioned a small scale quantitative study to investigate Welsh businesses’ display of food hygiene ratings in their premises.

• Consumer engagement on E.coli and vegetables

  Friday 30 September 2011

  FSA commissioned research to determine current behaviour, perception of risk and what messages are needed to encourage safer handling of vegetables. This is following recent outbreaks of E.coli, which have indicated more work may be needed to educate consumers about food safety when handling vegetables.

• Public attitudes to meat controls

  Tuesday 6 September 2011

  During 2010, the Food Standards Agency organised a series of 'citizens’ forums' with the public to ask for their views on current and future meat hygiene controls. These forums took place in Aberdeen, Belfast, Cardiff, London and York.

• Evidence review of food safety behaviours in the home

  Wednesday 17 August 2011

  The Agency has published a review of how people manage food safety in their homes and what implications these behaviours could have on their health.

• Consumers' views on the use of nanotechnology in food

  Thursday 21 April 2011

  In response to a recommendation by the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee in its 2010 report on nanotechnologies and food, the Agency commissioned some research on consumer views on the use of nanotechnologies in food and food packaging.

• Evaluation of food hygiene rating schemes

  Tuesday 22 March 2011

  The report provides recommendations for the best way to systematically assess the operation of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme / Food Hygiene Information Scheme, and identify their impacts.

• Citizens’ forum: campylobacter in chicken

  Monday 20 December 2010

  The national citizens’ forums held by the Food Standards Agency, gave an insight into the views and understanding consumers have of campylobacter; in particular, which interventions would be most acceptable to consumers and to what extent they are desirable.

• Public attitudes to GM food

  Thursday 26 November 2009

  The Food Standards Agency has published findings of a qualitative research project commissioned to explore public attitudes to genetic modification (GM).