The eighth annual Consumer Attitudes to Food Survey1 published
recently by the Food Standards Agency, points to increased confidence among
the public in the food they are consuming and to wider food issues.
Since the initial survey in 2000, the number of people concerned about
issues such as food poisoning, additives and food safety in general has
stayed steady, but the latest survey reveals the first dip in the number of
people who are concerned about many food safety issues. The results reveal
some other encouraging trends, particularly relating to increased awareness
and claimed consumption of ?five-a-day?.

Highlights of the latest survey relating to food safety include:

a.. A decrease since 2006 in concern over many food safety issues
including additives (35% down from 38%), food poisoning (36% down from 42%),
GM foods (20% down from 25%)
b.. Food labels remain important to shoppers looking for a range of
information such as ?best before? dates, allergy advice and additives in
foods. Half of respondents said they check some form of labelling
information when buying food
c.. Almost half of respondents in the survey did not know the
difference between ?use by? and ?sell by? dates on food2
Highlights relating to diet and nutrition include:

a.. More than three quarters (78%) of consumers are now aware that
we should be eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and
vegetables each day3 and 58%, also an improvement on last year, claimed to
be putting this into practice by eating at least ?5-a-day?4
b.. The amount of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar in foods are
still the top issues of concern among consumers and the quantity of fat and
salt are the most commonly checked for nutritional information on labels.5
However, the percentage of people who are concerned about these is slightly
down since 2006 - fat to 40% from 46%, saturated fat to 37% from 44%, salt
to 50% from 54% and sugar to 39% from 43% in 2006
c.. Nine out of ten respondents claimed that healthy eating is
important to them, and 87% also believed that a limited budget is not a
barrier to healthy eating, with those aged over 50 more likely to agree with
this sentiment than any younger age group6
Andrew Wadge, Chief Scientist at the Food Standards Agency, commented:
'This most recent survey is encouraging as it shows the majority of people
do realise how important it is to eat healthily, and many are also savvy
when it comes to shopping around and checking labels.

'A dip in concern over many food safety issues could point to growing
consumer confidence in the regulation of the food industry. Alternatively,
it might indicate a decreasing awareness of the importance of food hygiene ?
and this is something we will be addressing during Food Safety Week in June.

'However, what appears to be a drop in concern about how much fat and
salt there is in our food, shows how critical it is that the Agency
continues to raise awareness around a healthier diet and provides clear
information and advice, backed up by scientific evidence.'

Along with monitoring awareness of key food issues, the Consumer
Attitudes Survey also tracks awareness of the FSA and its role in providing
clear consumer advice. Figures of note include:

a.. Consumer awareness of the FSA remains at a constant high of 82%.
Trust in the FSA is also high at 60%, up from 44% when this question was
first asked in 2001
b.. 65% of consumers are now describing themselves as confident in
the Agency's ability to protect health with regards to food safety, compared
with 50% in 2000
c.. A third of consumers view the FSA as an organisation that they
would go to for information on food safety and food scares, and one in five
cited the Agency as a source of advice on healthy eating
Notes to editors
1 The latest wave of the Consumer Attitudes Survey was conducted
between August and October 2007. A total of 2,627 people were interviewed.

2 Only 55% correctly identified the correct meaning of use-by dates
(down from 61% in 2007) and 51% correctly identified the correct meaning of
best before dates.

3 In 2000 43% correctly understood the meaning of ?5-a-day?; this has
risen to 78% in 2007.

4 58% now claim to be eating five or more portions of fruit and
vegetables a day. This is up from 55% in 2006.

5 When checking labels on products bought for the first time, 42% say
they usually look for the amount of fat (down from 49% in 2006), 38% look
for the amount of salt (down from 40% in 2006), 29% look for sugar (the same
as in 2006) and 21% look for saturated fat (down from 24% in 2006).

6 66% of 50 to 65 year-olds and 71% of those aged over 66 agreed,
?even if you are on a limited budget you can still eat healthily? compared
to (at most) 57% among the younger age bands.


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