The Behaviour and Perception Area of Research Interest (ARI) looks at understanding the role that consumer and business behaviour and perception has in ensuring food safety and standards. The overarching aim of this ARI is to investigate consumers’ and businesses’ behaviours, beliefs and potential misconceptions around food hygiene and safety.
Under this ARI we will identify research gaps, collect evidence and data on a range of topics, including:
This ARI will provide a range of evidence that will be analysed and used by FSA teams in alignment with the FSA’s mission. Through identification of knowledge gaps, we can inform policy making in an efficient and targeted way, to achieve higher regulatory compliance, as well as a positive impact on consumers’ health. As the independent government department with the exclusive remit for food, it will enable us to fulfil a crucial role in informing the wider debates around issues such as food affordability.
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.
A survey tracking views of small and micro food businesses on regulatory issues and trust in the FSA.
A multi-stage research project to better understand consumers’ concerns in relation to food, to inform the development of our strategy for 2015-2020.
Insight project building on a 2015 consumer segmentation to identify different consumer attitudes to food safety, hygiene and preparation. This research focused on improving understanding of attitudes and behaviours towards a wide set of food related topics.
Research exploring interest in, expectations around and needs in relation to online display of Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) information on food ordering websites in Northern Ireland. The research involved deliberative ‘Citizens’ Forum’ workshops and a subsequent online forum.
Independent research exploring Northern Ireland (NI) consumers’ perceptions of product reformulation (to reduce levels of sugar, saturated fat, salt) and reduction in portion size by the NI food industry.
Research study among small and medium-sized (SME) food businesses (FBOs) to measure awareness of and compliance with food safety guidelines and regulations.
Research exploring how we can help reduce food poisoning cases by helping the public engage with food safety, and motivating adoption of safer practice.
Research monitoring our marketing campaign activity.
Research into consumer attitudes and behaviours around consumption of rare burgers, that is burgers that are not fully cooked through and still pink inside.
Research exploring what the public think being transparent about food means, what their priorities are in terms of greater transparency, how they think transparency should be enacted and who they see as being responsible for being transparent.
Results of Wave 1 of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Consumer Attitudes Tracker survey monitoring consumer awareness of the FHRS, their attitudes to the scheme and its use.
Results of Wave 2 of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Consumer Attitudes Tracker survey monitoring consumer awareness of the FHRS, their attitudes to the scheme and its use.
Results of Wave 3 of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Consumer Attitudes Tracker survey monitoring consumer awareness of the FHRS, their attitudes to the scheme and its use.
We commissioned in depth research into consumer attitudes and behaviours in relation to food supplements. Our aim was to further our understanding of both mainstream and ‘niche’ food supplement consumption, in order to inform the development of policy in this area.
We commissioned two research studies on trust in relation to food: Trust in a changing world - Rapid Evidence Assessment and Deliberative Forums.
Research to inform advisory messaging about the risks of eating beef burgers cooked rare or medium.
This research was commissioned to add to a growing evidence base on UK consumers’ views of the world we live in, where we are headed, and what we want to see from Our Food Future.
We have conducted consumer insight research into the views of consumers in relation to the EU and food issues. Summary of findings are available.
We commissioned TNS BMRB to conduct research with members of the public in Northern Ireland (NI) about their understanding of retail food labelling information, how this influences their behaviour and their concerns and priorities around labelling information.
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 2017 wave of research making comparisons to previous years where possible
Understanding of the term ‘raw milk’ remains high, with 8 out of 10 consumers able to correctly identify what the term means when prompted – an identical finding to that from 2012.
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.
Our organisation have added questions on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) to the TNS consumer omnibus survey tracker. These questions aim to provide us with evidence on consumer awareness, attitudes towards, and use of the FHRS.
The aim of the current review was to update the findings presented in the 2010 review on regulations, cultures and behaviours by examining relevant evidence that has accumulated over the past four years to see what may have changed in that timeframe.