Research projects related to the programme
A rapid evidence review of the Psychology of Food Choice
This report provides a rapid review of the evidence of the psychology of food choice, consolidating current knowledge and direction of development of research in relation to the psychology of food choice.
A rapid review of the evidence on the factors underpinning the consumption of meat and dairy among the general public
A literature review of the evidence on barriers and facilitators to the reduction of meat and dairy consumption among the general public.
A rapid review of the acceptability and impact of approaches to reduce the salt, fat and sugar content of people’s diets on consumers and industry
A report on the findings of reviews reporting on the acceptability and efficacy of population-scale initiatives to reduce fat, salt and sugar consumption.
Trends in Twitter conversations about food during 2019-20
This report gives a high-level summary of social media analysis divided by key categories to build our understanding of the views and concerns of the public when it comes to food. The analysis includes deep dive analyses on key category macro trends and key findings from audience analysis.
Psychologies of Food Choice: Public views and experiences around meat and dairy consumption
Research exploring UK public views and experiences around meat and dairy consumption, including key drivers of participants’ chosen dietary approach.
Survey of consumer perceptions of alternative, or novel, sources of protein
In December 2021, the FSA commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct an online survey to understand consumer awareness and perceptions of alternative, or novel, sources of protein.
Consumer insights tracker
Research and consumer insight on behaviours and attitudes to food insecurity, food availability, consumer concerns and confidence in the food chain.
Consumer Handwashing Research: Handwashing in a Pandemic
The Food Standards Agency with Ipsos Mori carried out research in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to monitor consumer hand hygiene behaviour during the pandemic.
Food Sensitive Study (Quality of Life) Wave 1 Report
This report presents the findings from a survey commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and delivered by Aston University to explore how people living with food hypersensitivities (FHS) such as allergy, intolerance and coeliac disease, are affected by these conditions in their daily lives.
FSA Consumer segmentation
Consumer segmentation is a way of grouping consumers based on common characteristics. It is used by organisations, including the FSA, to better understand different groups and how to reach them.
Qualitative research into the consumption of food with expired ‘use by’ dates
The COVID-19 Consumer Tracker and the Food and You 2 survey indicate that a substantial minority of consumers eat food after the use-by date (UBD) has expired. The FSA wished to discover more about the drivers of consuming food after the UBD, and barriers to compliance with the UBD
Consumer perceptions of genome edited food
A mixed method social science research project to understand consumer perceptions of genome edited food and its potential future labelling.
Survey of consumer practices with respect to coated frozen chicken products
Social research on coated frozen chicken products to cook and eat at home.
The FSA Risk Communication Toolkit
A toolkit and checklist to help our policy, science and strategy teams to plan effective risk communications.
Citizen science and food
The Citizen Science and Food report sets out how citizen science has been applied and how it is relevant to the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) areas of research interest.
Consumer perception of food risk
A survey to explore how consumers perceive food-related risks.
Food and drink manufacturers views on front of pack nutritional labelling
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissioned independent research to explore the views of food and drink manufacturers in Northern Ireland (NI) on front of pack nutritional labelling (FOPNL) including the impact of this labelling on manufacturers reformulation efforts.
Rapid Review of ‘Moments of Change’ and Food-Related Behaviours
A rapid evidence review looking at the factors influencing food behaviours and how they may be susceptible to disruption from life events or ‘moments of change’.
FSA and Official Controls: Research with food business operators
Research into how food business operators in the meat, wine and dairy sectors views the FSA and its Official Controls.
Display of food hygiene ratings in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (2019 wave of research)
We have commissioned independent research to assess the proportion of food businesses that are displaying their food hygiene ratings since 2011. This report provides the findings from the 2019 wave of research making comparisons to previous years where possible.
The COVID-19 consumer research
The Food Standards Agency with Ipsos Mori and Bright Harbour carried out research in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to monitor the experience and behaviours of consumers when it comes to key food risks during the pandemic.
Food Hygiene Rating Scheme – Consumer Attitudes Tracker (Wave 8)
We run an annual consumer attitudes survey on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) to track consumer awareness of the scheme, attitudes towards it and the use of the ratings over time.
Consumer Attitudes towards Emerging Technologies
Given the Food Standard Agency (FSA)’s focus on protecting consumer interests in relation to food, understanding consumer views of emerging and new food technologies is important. The FSA commissioned Collingwood Environmental to provide an up to date literature review and deliver qualitative research to explore what consumers views are on emerging technologies.
Food and Generation Z
Social science research to improve the understanding of Generation Z (broadly 16-25-year-olds) and their attitudes towards food and the food system.