F&Y2 trends: Chapter 1: Food you can trust

Introduction

The FSA’s overarching mission is ‘food you can trust’. The FSA’s vision is a food system in which:

• food is safe
• food is what it says it is
• food is healthier and more sustainable

This chapter provides an overview of respondents’ awareness of and trust in the FSA, as well as their confidence in food safety and the accuracy of information provided on food labels between Wave 1 (July 2020 to October 2020) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023).

Confidence in food safety and authenticity

 Food and You 2: Wave 1-6

There were no notable differences in confidence in food safety and authenticity between Wave 1 (July 2020 to October 2020) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023). Across all waves, around 9 in 10 respondents reported that they were confident (i.e., very confident or fairly confident) that the food they buy is safe to eat and over 8 in 10 respondents reported that they were confident that the information on food labels is accurate (Figure 1)^(footnote). 

Confidence in the food supply chain

Food and You 2: Wave 1-6

There were no notable differences in confidence in the food supply chain between Wave 1 (July 2020 to October 2020) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023). 

Across all waves, about three quarters of respondents reported that they were confident (i.e., were very confident or fairly confident) in the food supply chain (Figure 2)^(footnote). 

Food and You 2: Wave 1-6

Respondents were asked to indicate how confident they were that many actors involved in the food supply chain ensure that the food they buy is safe to eat. There were no notable differences in confidence (i.e., very confident or fairly confident) in shops and supermarkets between Wave 1 (July 2020 to October 2020) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023). Whilst confidence in restaurants, takeaways and food delivery services was generally consistent across waves, confidence in these actors peaked in Wave 2 (November 2020 to January 2021)** (Figure 3)^(footnote).

Food and You 2: Wave 1-6

There were no notable differences in confidence in farmers, food manufacturers, and slaughterhouses and dairies between Wave 1 (July 2020 to October 2020) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023). Across all waves, around 9 in 10 respondents reported confidence in farmers and around 8 in 10 respondents reported confidence in food manufactures, and slaughterhouses and dairies (Figure 4).  

Awareness, trust, and confidence in the FSA

Food and You 2: Wave 1-6

There were no notable differences in confidence in the FSA between Wave 2 (November 2020 to January 2021) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023). Across all waves, around 8 in 10 respondents reported that they were confident that the FSA (or the government agency responsible for food safety); can be relied upon to protect the public from food-related risks (such as food poisoning or allergic reactions from food); takes appropriate action if a food-related risk is identified, and is committed to communicating openly with the public about food-related risks (Figure 5)^(footnote). 

Food and You 2: Wave 1-6

There were no notable differences in trust in the FSA between Wave 1 (July 2020 to October 2020) and Wave 6 (October 2022 to January 2023).

Across all waves, around three quarters of respondents who had at least some knowledge of the FSA reported that they trusted (i.e., ‘I trust it a lot’ and ‘I trust it’) the FSA to do its job, that is to make sure food is safe and what it says it is. Across all waves, around 2 in 10 reported that they neither trust nor distrust the FSA to do this (Figure 6)^(footnote).