Survey shows concern about salt, fat and sugar in Scotland

Wednesday 16 March 2005

Ref: 14/2005

The fifth annual Consumer Attitudes Survey Scotland, published today by the Food Standards Agency, reveals increasing concern about diet and health across Scotland.

The amount of salt in food is the top concern for consumers, with worries about levels of fat and sugar also in the top five concerns.

More people are also looking for information about levels of salt, fat and sugar on food labels than ever before. Over the past five years, of the people in Scotland who look at food labels, the who say they look for nutritional information has risen from just over half of consumers in 2000, to nearly three quarters in 2004.¹

The level of concern about BSE has fallen by almost a quarter since 2000.²

Other five year trends include:

• The number of Scots claiming to have eaten at least five portions of fruit and vegetables the previous day has risen from just under a quarter in 2000 to almost half of all consumers in 2004 ³
• Correct knowledge of the 'at least 5 a day' message of eating fruit and vegetables has increased in Scotland from 48% in 2000 to 62% in 2004, compared with a rise across the UK from 43% in 2000, to 58% in 2004
• Levels of concern about the safety of raw beef in Scotland has fallen dramatically, from just over half of all consumers in 2000, to just over a third in 2004⁴
• Concern about the accuracy of food labelling in Scotland has risen from 33% in 2000 to 41% in 2004, compared to UK statistics of 35% in 2000 and 44% in 2004.

George Paterson, Director, FSA Scotland, said:

'Over the last five years the trend among consumers has been towards healthier eating and an increase in demand for reliable and practical information on all aspects of nutrition, food and health. People are more worried about levels of salt, fat and sugar in food, and less concerned about issues like BSE.

'To meet the growing demand for information about nutrition and healthy eating, the Food Standards Agency has launched a new website - www.food.gov.uk/eatwell - dedicated to providing reliable and practical advice on all aspects of food, diet and health, as well as helpful tips on topics such as understanding food labels'.