Consumer research

Consumer attitudes to the concept of a cross-government food website

This research was undertaken to gauge consumer attitudes and reactions to the concept of a website providing integrated government advice for consumers in relation to food safety, healthy eating and environmental and wider sustainability issues. This was in response to the Cabinet Office's recommendations in the Food Matters report.

Qualitative research to explore people's use of food labelling information

Qualitative behavioural research to provide an evidence base of what information people actually look at when shopping, as opposed to what they say they look at.

Country of origin labelling: omnibus research report

The Food Standards Agency commissioned quantitative market research to investigate consumer use, understanding and perceived importance of country of origin labelling on food products.

Country of origin labelling: A synthesis of research

A synthesis of research bringing together five studies investigating consumers' attitudes, use and understanding of country of origin labelling.

Citizens’ forums on food: Country of origin labelling

BMRB was commissioned by the Food Standards Agency to conduct a nationwide series of 'citizens' forums', with the goal of establishing an ongoing dialogue with the public on food standards.

Public attitudes towards, and use of, general food labelling

A review of the available research and evaluation of people’s understanding and use of general food labelling.

Evaluation of calorie information provided in catering outlets

An evaluation of calorie information that was introduced on menus in a select number of catering outlets this summer has been carried out by independent research company TNS-BMRB. The work assessed consumers' understanding and use of calorie labelling, and gathered feedback from the restaurants themselves to look at practical issues and costs that were involved in providing the information.

Public attitudes to GM food

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

Public Attitudes Tracking Survey

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.

Stakeholder Reputation Research

In order to achieve its objectives, the Food Standards Agency, of which the Meat Hygiene Service is an executive Agency, needs to understand the views of its stakeholders and must work successfully with a large number of stakeholders with different perspectives and often strong and opposing views about different aspects of the Agency’s work.

Older people and food: a synthesis of evidence

Food Safety Week development research: working with older people

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.

Public attitudes to emerging food technologies

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

Survey of public attitudes to food issues

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.

Annual consumer surveys

Each year we conduct an annual investigation into your attitudes to food, covering issues such as safety and hygiene, nutrition, diet and shopping.

Consumer priorities for sustainable development

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.

Cloned animals research report published

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.

Why do people take vitamin and mineral supplements?

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.

Minced meat labelling research

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'.

Food additives and children's behaviour

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.

Consumer research on fats

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.

Consumer research on eating out

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.

Perception of veterinary medicines

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.

Country of Origin Labelling

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.

Meat hygiene service review

This qualitative research, commissioned in May 2007, looks at consumer knowledge of and attitudes towards meat hygiene.

Consumer research on BSE and Atypical Scrapie in Sheep

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.

Labelling of alcoholic drinks and information requirements for food purchased online/by mail order

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.

Consumption of fruit peel

The Agency commissioned this research to gather more evidence of the quantity and frequency of fruit peel consumption.

Allergies and 'free from' foods

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.

Purchasing minced meat

This survey explores consumer understanding and perceptions of minced meat composition and labelling, it was commissioned by the Agency in March 2007.

Meat Products Regulation 5 Research

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.

Purchasing Ham

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.

Research into the views of children

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.

Local food report

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.

FSA powdered infant formula research

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.

Information for teenagers with food allergy

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.

Food scares consumer research

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.

Public's views of pesticides

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.

Views on semicarbazide

This research was commissioned to discover the views of mothers of young babies about the issue of semicarbazide (SEM).

Teenagers and nutrition: strategy development

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.

Food fundamentals report

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.

GM Focus Group Report

The report is a result of our focus group activity into public perceptions about and attitudes towards various key issues surrounding GM food.