Consumers remain confident in FSA

Consumers continue to be confident that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is protecting their health with regard to food safety, according to results from the Agency's September tracker survey.

The quarterly research, which tracks attitudes towards food safety, concerns about food issues, awareness of and trust in the FSA, involved face to face interviews with 2,081 UK adults via the TNS consumer omnibus survey.

The total awareness of the FSA remained constant (at 79% and 85%), while other figures found a significant increase in awareness of the Meat Hygiene Service (from 27% to 31%).

Consumer confidence in the role of the FSA in protecting health with regard to food safety remained constant (currently 64%), as did trust in the FSA, with nearly half of respondents (48%) rating the Agency as an organisation they could trust.

Concern about food safety issues remained stable (64%) with the main issues people expressed concern about being food poisoning (46%), food hygiene when eating out (44%), and the amount of salt, fat and sugar in food (42%, 41% and 40% respectively). Food prices and the amount of saturated fat in food were also issues of concern (both at 38%).

Meanwhile around 83% of respondents said they were aware of the hygiene standards of places where they eat out or buy food from, and the main ways they are aware were from general appearance of the premises (70%), appearance of staff (56%) and reputation (47%).

Words: Maria Bracken

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