Research project
Food and You 2: Wave 6 Key Findings
Food and You 2 is a biannual ‘Official Statistic’ survey commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The survey measures consumers’ self-reported knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to food safety and other food issues amongst adults in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Fieldwork for Food and You 2: Wave 6 was conducted between 12 October 2022 and 10 January 2023. A total of 5,991 adults (aged 16 years or over) from 4,217 households across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland completed the ‘push-to-web’ survey (see Annex A for more information about the methodology).
The modules presented in this report include ‘Food you can trust’, ‘Concerns about food’, ‘Food security’, ‘Eating at home’, ‘Food hypersensitivities’ and ‘Eating out and takeaways’.
Food you can trust
Confidence in food safety and authenticity
- 93% of respondents reported that they were confident that the food they buy is safe to eat.
- 87% of respondents were confident that the information on food labels is accurate.
Confidence in the food supply chain
- 76% of respondents reported that they had confidence in the food supply chain.
- respondents were more likely to report confidence in farmers (88%) and shops and supermarkets (85%) than in takeaways (62%), and food delivery services (45%).
Awareness, trust and confidence in the FSA
- 90% of respondents had heard of the FSA.
- 78% of respondents who had at least some knowledge of the FSA reported that they trusted the FSA to make sure 'food is safe and what it says it is.'
- 82% of 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), 82% were confident that the FSA takes appropriate action if a food-related risk is identified and 79% were confident that the FSA is committed to communicating openly with the public about food-related risks.
Concerns about food
- 82% of respondents had no concerns about the food they eat, and 18% if respondents reported that they had a concern.
- respondents with a concern were asked to briefly explain what their concerns were about the food they eat. The most common concerns related to food safety and hygiene (32%) and food quality (23%).
- respondents were asked to indicate if they had concerns about several food-related issues, from a list of options. The most common concern was food prices (65%). Other common concerns were food waste (62%), the quality of food (61%), and the amount of food packaging (56%).
Food Security
- Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 75% of respondents were classified as food secure (61% high, 14% marginal and 25% of respondents were classified as food insecure (12% low, 12% very low).
- 80% of respondents reported that they had made a change to their eating habits for financial reasons in the previous 12 months.
Eating out and takeaways
- 43% of respondents reported checking the food hygiene rating of a business in the previous 12 months.
- 86% of respondents reported that they had heard of the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS). Over half (55%) of respondents reported that they had heard of the FHRS and had at least a bit of knowledge about it.
Food allergies, intolerances and other hypersensitivities
- 12% of respondents reported that they had a food intolerance, 5% reported having a food allergy, and 1% reported having coeliac disease. Most respondents (78%) reported that they did not have a food hypersensitivity.
- 26% of respondents who had a food hypersensitivity had been diagnosed by an NHS or private medical practitioner and 5% had been diagnosed by an alternative or complementary therapist. However, most respondents (74%) had not received any diagnosis.
- 56% of respondents who had a food hypersensitivity reported that they had experienced a reaction in the previous 12 months and 39% reported that they had not experienced a reaction.
- 90% of respondents who go food shopping and take into consideration a person who has a food allergy or intolerance were confident the information provided on food labelling allows them to identify foods that will cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction.
Eating at home
Cleaning
- 46% of respondents reported that they always wash their hands before eating.
- 33% of respondents reported that they always wash their hands, or use hand sanitising gel or wipes when eating outside of their home.
- 72% of respondents reported that they always wash their hands before preparing or cooking food.
- 91% of respondents reported that they always wash their hands immediately after handling raw meat, poultry, or fish.
Chilling
- 62% of respondents reported that their fridge temperature should be between 0 to 5 degrees Celsius.
- 61% of respondents who have a fridge reported that they monitored the temperature; either manually(49%) or via an internal temperature alarm (11%).
Cooking
- 89% of respondents reported that they never eat chicken or turkey when it is pink or has pink juices. However, 9% of respondents reported eating chicken or turkey at least occasionally when it is pink or has pink juices.
Avoiding cross-contamination
- 56% of respondents reported that they never wash raw chicken, however 40% of respondents reported that they do this at least occasionally.
- 76% of respondents reported that they always cook food until it is steaming hot and cooked all the way through.
Use-by dates
- 65% of respondents identified the use-by-date as the information which shows that food is no longer safe to eat.
- 64% of respondents reported that they always check use-by-dates before they cook or prepare food.
First and foremost, our thanks go to all the respondents who gave up their time to take part in the survey.
We would like to thank the team at Ipsos who made a significant contribution to the project, particularly Kavita Deepchand, Kathryn Gallop, Stephen Finlay, Hannah Harding, Sally Horton, Christy Lai, Amber Parish, Dr Patten Smith, Kelly Ward and Ammeline Wang.
We would like to thank the FSA working group, Welsh Language Unit, and our FSA colleagues – Joanna Disson and Clifton Gay.
Finally, thank you to our external advisors – Professor George Gaskell, Professor Anne Murcott and Joy Dobbs for their valuable direction and guidance.
Authors: Dr Beth Armstrong, Lucy King, Robin Clifford, Mark Jitlal, Katie Mears, Charlotte Parnell, Dr Daniel Mensah.
The Food Standards Agency: role, remit and responsibilities
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a non-ministerial government department working to protect public health and consumers’ wider interests in relation to food in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland(footnote). The FSA’s overarching mission is ‘food you can trust’. The FSA’s vision as set out in the 2022-2027 strategy is a food system in which:
- food is safe
- food is what it says it is
- food is healthier and more sustainable
Food and You 2 is designed to monitor the FSA’s progress against this mission and inform policy decisions by measuring consumers’ self-reported knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to food safety and other food issues in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on a regular basis.
Food and You 2: Wave 6
Food and You 2: Wave 6 data were collected between 12 October 2022 and 10 January 2023. A total of 5,991 adults (aged 16 years and over) from 4,217 households across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland completed the survey (an overall response rate of 28.8%).
Food and You 2: Wave 6 data were collected during a period of political and economic change and uncertainty. This context is likely to have had an impact on the level of food security, concerns and food-related behaviours reported in Food and You 2(footnote).
Food and You 2 is a modular survey, with ‘core’ modules included every wave, ‘rotated’ modules repeated annually or biennially, and one-off modules addressing current issues of interest. The modules presented in this report include: ‘Food you can trust’ (core); ‘Concerns about food’ (core); ’Food security’ (core); ‘Eating at home’ (core); ‘Food hypersensitivities (rotated)’ and ‘Eating out and takeaways’ (rotated).
This report presents key findings from the Food and You 2: Wave 6 survey. Not all questions asked in the Wave 6 survey are included in the report. The full results are available in the accompanying full data set and tables.
Interpreting the findings
To highlight the key differences between socio-demographic and other sub-groups, variations in responses are typically reported only where the absolute difference is 10 percentage points or larger and is statistically significant at the 5% level (p<0.05). However, some differences between socio-demographic and other sub-groups are included where the difference is less than 10 percentage points, when the finding is notable or judged to be of interest. These differences are indicated with a double asterisk (**).
In some cases, it was not possible to include the data of all sub-groups, however such analyses are available in the full data set and tables. Key information is provided for each reported question in the footnotes, including:
- question wording (question) and response options (response).
- number of respondents presented with each question and description of the respondents who answered the question (Base= N).
- 'Please note:’ indicates important points to consider when interpreting the results.
Future publication plans
Modules expected to be reported in the Food and You 2: Wave 7 Key Findings report include, ‘Food you can trust’ (core), ‘Concerns about food’ (core), ‘Food security’ (core), and ‘Food shopping and labelling’ (rotated).
A report which provides an overview of key trends from Food and You 2: Wave 1 (fieldwork: 29 July to 6 October 2020) to Wave 6 (fieldwork: 12 October 2022 to 10 January 2023) is expected to be published late 2023.
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.
Confidence in food safety and authenticity
Most respondents reported confidence (for example, were very confident or fairly confident) in food safety and authenticity; 93% of respondents reported that they were confident that the food they buy is safe to eat, and 87% of respondents were confident that the information on food labels is accurate(footnote).
Confidence in food safety varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- age group: older respondents were more likely to be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat than younger adults (for example, 88% of those aged 16-24 years compared to 97% of those aged 65-79 years)**.
- food security: respondents who were more food secure were more likely to be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat compared to those who were less food secure (for example, 97% of those with high food security compared to 85% of those with very low food security).
- ethnic group: white respondents (95%) were more likely to be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat than Asian or Asian British (82%) respondents(footnote).
- responsibility for cooking: respondents who are responsible for cooking (93%) were more likely to be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat than those who don’t cook (83%).
Confidence in the accuracy of information on food labels varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- annual household income: respondents with a higher income were more likely to be confident in the accuracy of food labels than those with respondents with a lower income, (for example, 92% of those with an income between £64,000 and £95,999 compared to 80% of those with an income of less than £19,000).
- NS-SEC(footnote): respondents in managerial, administrative, and professional occupations (90%), intermediate occupations (89%), and semi-routine and routine occupations (88%) were more likely to report confidence in the accuracy of food labels than those who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (78%).
- food security: respondents who were more food secure were more likely to report confidence in the accuracy of food labels than those who were less food secure, (for example, 90% of those with high food security compared to 78% of those with very low food security).
Confidence in the food supply chain
Around three quarters of respondents (76%) reported that they had confidence (for example, very confident or fairly confident) in the food supply chain(footnote).
Confidence in the food supply chain varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- age group: older respondents were more likely to report confidence in the food supply chain than younger adults (for example, 81% of those aged 55-64 years compared to 67% of those aged 16-24 years). In addition, 10% of those aged between 16 and 24 years reported that they don’t know how confident they are in the food supply chain.
- NS-SEC: respondents in occupations (for example, 85% of those in lower supervisory and technical occupations) and those who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (74%) were more likely to report confidence in the food supply chain than full-time students (61%). In addition, 13% of those were long-term unemployed and/or had never worked reported that they don’t know how confident they are in the food supply chain.
- region (England)(footnote): confidence in the food supply chain varied by region. For example, 85% of respondents in North-East England and 81% of those in the East Midlands were confident in the food supply chain compared to 70% of those in London and 70% of those in South-East England.
- food security: respondents who were more food secure were more likely to report confidence in the food supply chain than respondents who were less food secure (for example, 80% of those with a high level of food compared to 69% of those with very low food security).
Figure 1: Confidence that food supply chain actors ensure food is safe to eat
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents were asked to indicate how confident they were that key actors involved in the food supply chain ensure that the food they buy is safe to eat. Respondents were more likely to report confidence (for example, very confident or fairly confident) in farmers (88%) and shops and supermarkets (85%) than in takeaways (62%), and food delivery services for example, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats (45%) (Figure 1)(footnote). In addition, 20% of respondents reported that they don’t know how confident they are that food delivery services ensure that the food they buy is safe to eat.
Awareness, trust and confidence in the FSA
Awareness of the FSA varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- age group: older respondents were more likely to have heard of the FSA than younger respondents (for example, 97% of those aged 65-79 years had heard of the FSA, compared to 68% of those aged 16-24 years).
- annual household income: respondents with an income of more than £32,000 (for example, 97% of those with an income between £64,000 and £95,999) were more likely to have heard of the FSA than those with an income of less than £19,000 (84%).
- NS-SEC: respondents in most occupational groups (for example, 95% of those in intermediate occupations) were more likely to have heard of the FSA than full-time students (64%).
- ethnic group: white respondents (93%) were more likely to have heard of the FSA compared to Asian or Asian British respondents (74%)(footnote).
- responsibility for cooking: respondents who are responsible for cooking (91%) were more likely to have heard of the FSA than those who do not cook (71%).
- responsibility for food shopping: respondents who are responsible for food shopping (91%) were more likely to have heard of the FSA than those who never shop for food (71%).
Figure 2: Knowledge about the Food Standards Agency (FSA)
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Most respondents reported at least some knowledge of the FSA; 7% reported that they knew a lot about the FSA and what it does, and 49% reported that they knew a little about the FSA and what it does. Almost a third (31%) of respondents reported that they had heard of the FSA but knew nothing about it, 6% had not heard of the FSA until being contacted to take part in Food and You 2, and 7% had never heard of the FSA (Figure 2)(footnote).
Knowledge of the FSA varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- age group: respondents aged between 25 and 79 years (for example, 68% of those aged 55-64 years) were more likely to report knowledge of the FSA compared to younger respondents (38% of those aged 16-24 years) or the oldest respondents (41% of those aged 80 years and over).
- annual household income: respondents with a higher income were more likely to report knowledge of the FSA compared to those with a lower income (for example, 63% of those with an income between £64,000 and £95,999 compared to 52% of those with an income of less than £19,000).
- NS-SEC: respondents in managerial, administrative, and professional occupations (63%) were more likely to report knowledge of the FSA than those who were in some occupational groups (for example, 50% of those in semi-routine and routine occupations). Those who were long term unemployed and/or never worked (33%) or full-time students (31%) were least likely to report knowledge of the FSA.
- country: respondents in Wales (65%) were more likely to report knowledge of the FSA than those in England (56%) or Northern Ireland (56%).(footnote)**
- responsibility for cooking: respondents who are responsible for cooking (57%) were more likely to report knowledge of the FSA compared to respondents who do not cook (40%).
- responsibility for shopping: respondents who are responsible for shopping (58%) were more likely to report knowledge of the FSA compared to respondents who never shop (38%).
Respondents who had at least some knowledge of the FSA were asked how much they trusted the FSA to do its job, that is to make sure food is safe and what it says it is. Most (78%) respondents reported that they trusted the FSA to do its job, 19% of respondents neither trust or distrust the FSA to do this, and 1% of respondents reported that they distrust the FSA to do this(footnote).
Most 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) (82%). Around 8 in 10 respondents were confident that the FSA takes appropriate action if a food-related risk is identified (82%), and were confident that the FSA is committed to communicating openly with the public about food-related risks (79%)(footnote).
Introduction
The FSA’s role, set out in law, is to safeguard public health and protect the interests of consumers in relation to food. The FSA uses the Food and You 2 survey to monitor consumers’ concerns about food issues, such as food safety, nutrition, and environmental issues. This chapter provides an overview of respondents’ concerns about food.
Common concerns
Respondents were asked to report whether they had any concerns about the food they eat. Most respondents (82%) had no concerns about the food they eat, and 18% of respondents reported that they had a concern(footnote).
Figure 3. Most common spontaneously expressed food-related concerns.
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Source Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents who reported having a concern were asked to briefly explain what their concerns were about the food they eat. The most common concerns related to food safety and hygiene (32%), the quality of food (23%), food production methods (21%), and nutrition and health (19%) (Figure 3)(footnote)
Figure 4. Most common prompted food-related concerns.
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Source Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents were asked to indicate if they had concerns about several food-related issues, from a list of options. The most common concern was food prices (65%). Other common concerns were food waste (62%), the quality of food (61%), and the amount of food packaging (56%) (Figure 4)(footnote).
Figure 5. Level of concern about food-related topics.
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Respondents were asked to indicate the extent to which they were concerned about a number of specific food-related issues. Respondents were most likely to report a high level of concern about the affordability of food (51%). Other issues respondents were highly concerned about included animal welfare in the food production process (32%) and food from outside the UK being safe and hygienic (28%) (Figure 5)(footnote).
The reported level of concern about the affordability of food varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- age group: respondents aged between 16 and 64 years were more likely to report that they were highly concerned about the affordability of food compared to those aged 65 years or over (for example, 55% of those aged 25-34 years compared to 37% of those aged 80 years or over).
- children under 6 years in household: 64% of respondents with children under 6 reported that they were highly concerned about the affordability of food compared to 50% of those without children of that age in the household.
- annual household income: respondents with a lower income were more likely to report that they were highly concerned about the affordability of food compared to households with a higher income (for example, 59% of those with an income below £19,000 compared to 49% of those with an income between £64,000 and £95,999).
- region (England)(footnote): levels of concern about the affordability of food varied by region in England. For example, respondents who live in the North-East of England (65%) and West Midlands (59%) were more likely to report that they were highly concerned about the affordability of food compared to those who live in London (45%).
- food security: respondents with very low food security (75%) were more likely to report that they were highly concerned about the affordability of food than those with low (65%) or marginal (56%) food security. Those with high food security were least likely to report that they were highly concerned about the affordability of food (44%).
Introduction
This chapter reports the level of food security in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and how food security varied between different categories of people.
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” World Food Summit, 1996.
Food and You 2 uses the U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to measure consumers’ food security status.
Respondents are assigned to one of the following food security status categories:
- high: no reported indications of food-access problems or limitations.
- marginal food security: one or two reported indications—typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. Little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake.
- low: reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake.
- very low: reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.
Those with high or marginal food security are referred to as food secure. Those with low or very low food security are referred to as food insecure.
More information on how food security is measured and how classifications are assigned and defined can be found in Annex A and on the USDA Food Security website.
Food Security
Across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 75% of respondents were classified as food secure (61% high, 14% marginal) and 25% of respondents were classified as food insecure (12% low, 12% very low)(footnote).
Figure 6. Food security in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
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Source Food and You 2 Wave 6.
Around three-quarters of respondents were food secure (for example, had high or marginal food security) in England (76%), Wales (73%) and Northern Ireland (74%). Approximately a quarter of respondents were food insecure (for example, had low or very low food security) in England (24%), Wales (27%) and Northern Ireland (26%) (Figure 5).
Experiences of food insecurity
To establish a food security classification, respondents were asked up to ten questions from the US Adult Food Security Survey Module(footnote).
All respondents were asked the first three questions from the food security survey module. Respondents were asked how often, if ever, they had experienced any of the following in the previous 12 months:
- I/we worried whether our food would run out before we got money to buy more
- the food that we bought just didn't last, and I/we didn't have money to get more
- I/we couldn't afford to eat balanced meals
Figure 7. Experiences of food security by food security classification
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
In the previous 12 months, respondents who had very low (99%), or low (97%) food security were more likely to have worried whether their food would run out before they got money to buy more, compared to those with marginal (64%) food security. Respondents who had very low (94%), or low (85%) food security were more likely to report that the food that they bought just didn't last, and they didn't have money to get more, compared to those with marginal (30%) food security. Respondents who had very low (96%), or low (85%) food security were more likely to report that they couldn’t afford balanced meals, compared to those with marginal (37%) food security. Respondents with high food security reported that they had not had any of these experiences (0% worried whether their food would run out before they got money to buy more, 0% the food that they bought just didn't last, and they didn't have money to get more) in the previous 12 months (Figure 7).
How food security differs between socio-economic and demographic groups
Figure 8. Food security by age group.
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Food security varied by age group with older adults being more likely to report that they were food secure and less likely to report that they were food insecure than younger adults. For example, 44% of respondents aged 16-24 years were food insecure (20% low, 23% very low security) compared to 7% of those aged 80 years and over (7% low, 1% very low security) (Figure 8).
Figure 9. Food security by annual household income.
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Food security was associated with household income. Respondents with a lower income were more likely to report being food insecure than those with a higher income. For example, 46% of those with an annual household income of less than £19,000 reported food insecurity (low 22%, very low 24%) compared to 5% of those with an income between £64,000 and £95,999 (low 3%, very low 2%) (Figure 9).
Figure 10. Food security by socio-economic classification (NS-SEC)
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (53%) were more likely to report that they were food insecure compared to all other occupational groups. Those who were full-time students (38%), and in semi-routine and routine occupations (36%), were more likely to be food insecure than many other occupations groups (for example, 18% of those in managerial, administrative, and professional occupations) (Figure 10)(footnote).
The reported level of food insecurity also varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- household size: households with 5 people or more (44%) were more likely to report that they were food insecure compared to those in households with 4-persons or fewer (for example, 17% in 2-person households).
- children under 16 in household: 36% of households with children under 16 years reported that they were food insecure compared to 20% of households without children under 16 years.
- children under 6 in household: 45% of households with children under 6 years reported that they were food insecure compared to 22% of households without children under 6 years.
- urban vs rural: 27% of respondents living in an urban area reported that they were food insecure compared to 16% of respondents living in a rural area.
- ethnic group: 34% of Asian or Asian British respondents reported that they were food insecure compared to 22% of respondents white respondents(footnote).
- long term health condition: respondents with a long-term health condition (32%) were more likely to report being food insecure compared to those without a long-term health condition (20%).
Changes to food-related behaviours
Figure 11. Changes in eating habits and food-related behaviours for financial reasons.
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Respondents were asked what changes, if any, they had made to their eating habits and food-related behaviours in the previous 12 months for financial reasons. Most respondents (80%) reported that they had made a change to their eating habits for financial reasons in the previous 12 months, with only 20% of respondents indicating that they had made no changes.
Common changes related to what and where respondents ate (46% ate out less, 44% ate at home more, 39% ate fewer takeaways), changes to shopping habits (42% bought items on special offer, 36% changed where they buy food for cheaper alternatives, 35% changed the food they buy for cheaper alternatives, 31% bought reduced/discounted food, 19% bulked out meals with cheaper ingredients) and changes to food preparation (29% prepared food that could be kept as leftovers/ cooked in batches more, 23% made more packed lunches).
Around 1 in 10 respondents reported that they had reduced the amount of fresh food they bought (13%) and 10% of respondents had bought less food that is locally produced. Some respondents reported an increase in risky food safety behaviours due to financial reasons (13% kept leftovers for longer before eating, 12% had eaten food past its use-by date more, 3% changed the setting on the fridge / freezer, 2% changed the length of time or temperature food is cooked at) (Figure 11)(footnote).
Food bank use
Respondents were asked if they or anyone else in their household had received a free parcel of food from a food bank or other emergency food provider in the last 12 months. Most respondents (94%) reported that they had not used a food bank or other emergency food provider in the last 12 months, with 4% of respondents reporting that they had(footnote).
Respondents who had received a food parcel from a food bank or other provider were asked to indicate how often they had received this in the last 12 months. Of these respondents, 37% had received a food parcel on only one occasion in the last 12 months, 40% had received a food parcel on more than one occasion but less often than every month, and 7% had received a food parcel every month or more often(footnote).
Free school meals
Respondents with children aged 7-15 years in their household were asked whether these children receive free school meals. Most respondents (78%) with a child(ren) aged 7-15 years in their household reported that the child(ren) do not receive free school meals. Approximately one in six (17%) respondents reported that the child or children receive free school meals(footnote).
The reported uptake of free school meals varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- annual household income: respondents with an income of less than £19,000 (45%) were more likely to report that the child(ren) receive free school meals compared to those with a higher income (for example, 4% of those with an income of £64,000-£95,999).
- food security: respondents with low (36%) or very low (34%) food security were more likely to report their child(ren) received free school meals compared to those with a high (5%) or marginal (14%) food security.
- long-term health condition: respondents with a long-term health condition (30%) security were more likely to report the child(ren) received free school meals compared to those without a long-term health condition (13%).
Social supermarkets
Social supermarkets, food clubs and community pantries/larders allow people to buy food items at a heavily discounted price, or as part of a membership. These are generally community organisations and may offer additional services such as referral services and volunteering opportunities. Some or all of the food is surplus from the food supply chain.
Awareness and use of social supermarkets
Respondents were asked if they or anyone else in their household had used a social supermarket in the last 12 months. Around 1 in 20 (4%) respondents reported that they had used a social supermarket in the last 12 months, whilst 80% of respondents reported that they had not. Only 14% of respondents reported that they had not heard of social supermarkets(footnote).
The use of social supermarkets varied between different categories of people in the following ways:
- annual household income: respondents with an income of less than £19,000 (9%) were more likely to have used a social supermarket than those with a higher income (for example, 2% of those with an income between £32,000 and £63,999)**.
- NS-SEC: respondents who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (20%) were more likely to have used a social supermarket than those in other occupational groups (for example, 3% in managerial, administrative, and professional occupations) or full-time students (4%).
- food security: respondents with very low food security (14%) were more likely to have used a social supermarket than those with low (7%) or marginal (6%) food security. Those with high food security (1%) were least likely to have used a social supermarket.
Figure 12. Frequency of social supermarket use
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents who had used a social supermarket were asked to indicate how often they had used this in the last 12 months. Of these respondents, 5% had used a social supermarket every day or most days, 31% had used a social supermarket 2-3 times a week or about once a week, 13% had used a social supermarket 2-3 times a month or about once a month, and 20% had used a social supermarket less than once a month. However, 29% of respondents who had used a social supermarket reported that they could not remember how often they had used a social supermarket in the last 12 months (Figure 12)(footnote).
Introduction
The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) helps people make informed choices about where to eat out or shop for food by giving clear information about the businesses’ hygiene standards. Ratings are typically given to places where food is supplied, sold or consumed, including restaurants, pubs, cafés, takeaways, food vans and stalls.
The FSA runs the scheme in partnership with local authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A food safety officer from the local authority inspects a business to check that it follows food hygiene law so that the food is safe to eat. Businesses are given a rating from 0 to 5. A rating of 5 indicates that hygiene standards are very good and a rating of 0 indicates that urgent improvement is required.
Food businesses are provided with a sticker which shows their FHRS rating. In England businesses are encouraged to display their FHRS rating, however in Wales and Northern Ireland food businesses are legally required to display their FHRS ratingFHRS ratings was introduced in November 2013 in Wales and October 2016 in Northern Ireland.</p> " href="#">(footnote). FHRS ratings are also available on the FSA website.
This chapter provides an overview of respondents’ eating out and takeaway ordering habits, the factors that are considered when deciding where to eat out or order a takeaway from, and recognition and use of the FHRS.
Prevalence of eating out and ordering takeaways
Figure 13. Type of food business respondents had eaten at or ordered food from in the previous 4 weeks.
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Source: Food & You 2: Wave 6
Respondents were asked where they had eaten food from in the previous four weeks. Around 6 in 10 respondents had eaten food from a café, coffee shop or sandwich shop (either to eat in or take out) (57%) and 55% had eaten in a restaurant. Half had eaten food from a takeaway ordered directly from a takeaway shop or restaurant (50%), 45% had eaten in a pub or bar, 40% had eaten food fast food outlet (either to eat in or take out) and 32% from a takeaway ordered from an online food delivery company (for example, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats). Around 1 in 10 (8%) respondents had not eaten food from any of the listed food businesses in the previous 4 weeks (Figure 13)(footnote).
Figure 14. Prevalence of eating out in a restaurant, pub or bar, or from a takeaway by age group in the previous 4 weeks
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Younger respondents were more likely to have eaten food from a takeaway (ordered directly or from an online food delivery company) in the previous four weeks compared to older respondents. However, the likelihood that respondents had eaten in a restaurant, pub or bar did not differ significantly between most age groups. For example, 80% of those aged between 25 and 34 years had eaten food from a takeaway compared to 22% of those aged 80 years or over. In comparison, 69% of those aged between 16 and 24 years had eaten in a restaurant, pub or bar compared to 68% of those aged 65-79 years (Figure 14).
Figure 15. Prevalence of eating out in a restaurant, pub or bar, or from a takeaway by annual household income in the previous 4 weeks
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents with a higher household income were more likely to have eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar, or have eaten food from a takeaway (ordered directly or from an online food delivery company) in the previous 4 weeks compared to respondents with a lower income. For example, 86% of respondents with an income between £64,000 and £95,999 had eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar compared to 54% of those with an income of £19,000 or below. Similarly, 72% of respondents with an income between £64,000 and £95,999 had eaten food from a takeaway (ordered directly or from an online food delivery company) compared to 52% of those with an income of less than £19,000 (Figure 15).
The prevalence of eating out in a restaurant, pub or bar or eating food from a takeaway (ordered directly or from an online food delivery company) in the previous 4 weeks also varied between different types of people in the following ways:
- household size: respondents who lived in larger households were more likely to have eaten food from a takeaway than those who lived in smaller households. For example, 76% of respondents living in a household of 5-persons or more had eaten food from a takeaway compared to 43% of respondents living alone. However, the prevalence of eating out in a restaurant, pub or bar did not differ by household size. For example, 66% of respondents living in a household of 5-persons or more had eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar compared to 67% of respondents living alone.
- children under 16 years in household: respondents who had children in the household (74%) were more likely to have eaten food from a takeaway than those who did not have children aged 16 years or under in the household (56%). The prevalence of eating out in a restaurant, pub or bar did not differ greatly between those with (65%) or without (71%) children aged 16 years or under in the household**.
- NS-SEC(footnote): respondents in some occupational groups (for example, 77% managerial, administrative and professional occupations) were more likely to have eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar compared to those in other occupational groups (for example, 55% semi-routine and routine occupations), and full-time students (63%). Those who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (27%) were least likely to have eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar. However, full-time students (73%) were more likely to have eaten food from a takeaway than those in occupational groups (for example, 59% intermediate occupations) and those who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (53%).
- urban/rural: respondents living in an urban area (63%) were more likely to have eaten food from a takeaway than those living in a rural area (53%). However, the prevalence of eating out in a restaurant, pub or bar did not differ between those who lived in urban (68%) or rural (71%) areas**.
- food security: respondents with high (73%) food security were more likely to have eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar than those with marginal (67%), low (62%) or very low (59%) food security. However, respondents with high (58%) food security were less likely to have eaten food from a takeaway than those with marginal (67%), low (68%) or very low (69%) food security.
- ethnic group: white respondents (70%) were more likely to have eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar compared to Asian or Asian British respondents (62%), however Asian or Asian British respondents (72%) were more likely to have eaten food from a takeaway compared to white respondents (61%)(footnote).
- long term health condition: respondents with no long-term health condition (73%) were more likely to have eaten out in a restaurant, pub or bar compared to respondents who had a long-term health condition (62%), however the prevalence of eating food from a takeaway did not differ greatly between those with (58%) or without (64%) a long-term health condition**.
Eating out and takeaways by mealtime
Figure 16. Frequency of eating out or buying food to takeout by mealtime
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents were asked how often they ate out or bought food to take out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Respondents were least likely to eat out or buy food to take out for breakfast, with 49% of respondents never doing this. Around half of respondents (55%) reported that they ate out or bought takeout food for lunch 2-3 times a month or less often. Respondents were most likely to eat out or buy food to take out for dinner, with 64% doing this 2-3 times a month or less often and 26% doing this about once a week or more often (Figure 16)(footnote).
Factors considered when eating out
Respondents were asked which factors, from a given list, they generally considered when deciding where to eat out in restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés, coffee shops or sandwich shops.
Figure 17. Factors considered when deciding where to eat out.
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Those who eat out were most likely to consider the quality of food (84%) and their previous experience of the place (81%) when deciding where to eat. Over 4 in 10 (45%) respondents considered the food hygiene rating when deciding where to eat out (Figure 17)(footnote).
Factors considered when ordering takeaways
Respondents were asked which factors, from a given list, they generally considered when deciding where to order a takeaway from(footnote).
Figure 18. Factors considered when ordering a takeaway
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Those who order takeaways were most likely to consider their previous experience of the takeaway (78%) and the quality of food (72%) when deciding where to order a takeaway from. Around 4 in 10 (36%) respondents considered the food hygiene rating when deciding where to order a takeaway from (Figure 18)(footnote).
Awareness and recognition of the FHRS
Most respondents (86%) reported that they had heard of the FHRS. Over half (55%) of respondents reported that they had heard of the FHRS and had at least a bit of knowledge about it(footnote),FHRS questions not included in this report are available in the full dataset and tables. A more detailed FHRS report will be published separately.</p> " href="#">(footnote).
Figure 19. Percentage of respondents who had heard of the FHRS by country
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Most respondents living in England (86%), Wales (92%), and Northern Ireland (91%) had heard of the FHRS (Figure 19)**.
Respondents in Wales (69%) and Northern Ireland (65%) were more likely to report that they had heard of the FHRS and had at least a bit of knowledge of the FHRS compared to those in England (54%).
When shown an image of the FHRS sticker, most (87%) respondents reported that they had seen the FHRS sticker before. Recognition of the FHRS sticker was comparable across England (87%), Wales (91%) and Northern Ireland (93%)**(footnote).
FHRS usage
Respondents were asked if they had checked the hygiene rating of a food business in the last 12 months. Around 4 in 10 (43%) respondents reported checking the food hygiene rating of a business in the previous 12 months(footnote).
Respondents living in Wales (59%) were more likely to have checked the hygiene rating of a food business in the last 12 months compared to respondents in England (42%) and Northern Ireland (48%).
Figure 20. Food businesses where respondents had checked the food hygiene rating in last 12 months
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents who said they had checked the hygiene rating of a food business in the last 12 months were asked what types of food businesses they had checked. The most common types of food business which respondents had checked the food rating of were restaurants (73%) and takeaways (73%). Respondents were less likely to report that they had checked the food hygiene rating of cafés (53%), pubs (37%), or coffee or sandwich shops (37%) (Figure 20)(footnote).
Introduction
‘Food hypersensitivity’ is a term that refers to a bad or unpleasant physical reaction which occurs as a result of consuming a particular food. There are different types of food hypersensitivity including a food allergy, food intolerance and coeliac disease.
A food allergy occurs when the immune system (the body’s defence) mistakes the proteins in food as a threat. Symptoms of a food allergy can vary from mild symptoms to very serious symptoms, and can include itching, hives, vomiting, swollen eyes and airways, or anaphylaxis which can be life threatening.
Food intolerance is difficulty in digesting specific foods which causes unpleasant reactions such as stomach pain, bloating, diarrhoea, skin rashes or itching. Food intolerance is not an immune condition and is not life threatening.
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition caused by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye and products using these as ingredients. The immune system attacks the small intestine which damages the gut and reduces the ability to absorb nutrients. Symptoms of coeliac disease can include diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating.
The FSA is responsible for allergen labelling and providing guidance to people with food hypersensitivities. By law, food businesses in the UK must inform customers if they use any of the 14 most potent and prevalent allergens(footnote) in the food and drink they provide.
Food businesses can also voluntarily provide information about the unintentional presence of these 14 allergens which may occur during the production process, for example when several products are made on the same premises. This is called precautionary allergen labelling (PAL) and includes labels such as ‘may contain x’ or ‘not suitable for consumers with a x allergy’. PAL information can be provided verbally or in writing but should only be provided where there is an unavoidable risk of allergen cross-contamination that cannot be sufficiently controlled through risk management actions.
This chapter provides an overview of the self-reported prevalence and diagnosis of food hypersensitivities, and experiences of eating out or ordering a takeaway among those with a hypersensitivity.
Prevalence, diagnosis and severity of food hypersensitivities
Around a fifth (22%) of respondents reported that they suffer from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction after consuming certain foods or avoid certain foods because of the bad or unpleasant physical reaction they might cause(footnote).
Figure 21. Prevalence of different types of food hypersensitivity.
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Source: Food and You 2 Wave 6
Most respondents (78%) reported that they did not have a food hypersensitivity. Around 1 in 10 (12%) respondents reported that they had a food intolerance, 5% reported having a food allergy, and 1% reported having coeliac disease (Figure 21)(footnote).
The prevalence of bad or unpleasant physical reactions to food varied between different groups of people in the following ways:
- gender: women (28%) were more likely to report a bad or unpleasant physical reaction to food than men (16%).
- responsibility for cooking: respondents who are responsible for cooking (23%) were more likely to report a bad or unpleasant physical reaction to food than those who do not cook (7%).
- responsibility for shopping: respondents who are responsible for shopping (23%) were more likely to report a bad or unpleasant physical reaction to food than those who do not shop (10%).
Severity of food hypersensitivities
Respondents who reported that they suffer from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction after consuming certain foods, or avoid certain foods because of the bad or unpleasant physical reaction they might cause were asked how they would describe their reaction. Around a quarter (26%) of respondents reported that they had a mild reaction, 48% of respondents reported that they had a moderate reaction, and 24% of respondents reported that they had a severe reaction(footnote).
Figure 22. Reaction severity of respondents with an intolerance or allergy
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Source: Food and You 2: Wave 6
Respondents who suffer from an allergy only (37%) were more likely to report that they had a severe reaction than those with only an intolerance (20%). Conversely, respondents who suffer from an intolerance only (56%) were more likely to report that they had a moderate reaction than those with only an allergy (33%) (Figure 22).
Prevalence, frequency and causes of food reactions
Respondents who reported that they suffer from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction after consuming certain foods, or avoid certain foods because of the bad or unpleasant physical reaction they might cause, were asked if they had experienced a reaction in the previous 12 months. Of these respondents, 56% reported that they had experienced a reaction and 39% reported that they had not experienced a reaction(footnote).
Respondents who had experienced a bad or unpleasant physical reaction in the previous 12 months were asked how many times they had experienced a reaction. Around a quarter (27%) of respondents had experienced reactions once or twice, 45% of respondents had experienced between 3 and 10 reactions and 26% had experienced more than 10 reactions(footnote).
Respondents who had experienced a bad or unpleasant physical reaction in the previous 12 months were asked what they thought caused their last reaction. The most reported causes were food made to order from a restaurant or café (19%), food ordered directly from a takeaway shop or restaurant (19%), food prepared/cooked by the respondent at home (18%) and pre-packaged food bought in a shop or café (16%)(footnote).
Diagnosis of food hypersensitivities
Respondents who reported having a bad or unpleasant reaction were asked how they had found out about their condition. Around a quarter (26%) of respondents who had a food hypersensitivity had been diagnosed by an NHS or private medical practitioner and 5% had been diagnosed by an alternative or complementary therapist. However, most respondents (74%) had not received any diagnosis(footnote).
Figure 23. Prevalence and type of food reaction and intolerance diagnosis
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Source: Food and You 2 Wave 6
Most respondents who have a food intolerance (83%) have noticed that a particular food causes them problems, but have not been formally diagnosed with a specific condition. However, 16% of respondents with a food intolerance had been diagnosed by an NHS or private medical practitioner (for example GP, dietician, allergy specialist in a hospital or clinic) and 7% had been diagnosed by an alternative or complementary therapist (for example, homeopath, reflexologist, online or walk-in allergy testing service).
Around 6 in 10 (62%) respondents who have a food allergy have noticed that a particular food causes them problems, but have not been formally diagnosed with a specific condition. However, 38% of respondents with a food intolerance had been diagnosed by an NHS or private medical practitioner (for example GP, dietician, allergy specialist in a hospital or clinic) and 4% had been diagnosed by an alternative or complementary therapist (for example, homeopath, reflexologist, online or walk-in allergy testing service).
Respondents with a food allergy (38%) were more likely to been diagnosed by an NHS or private medical practitioner (for example GP, dietician, allergy specialist in a hospital or clinic) than those with a food intolerance (16%) (Figure 23).
Foods most likely to cause unpleasant reactions
Respondents who reported that they suffered from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction after consuming certain foods, or avoided certain foods because of the bad or unpleasant physical reaction it might cause, were asked which foods they experience reactions to.
Figure 24. The food groups most likely to cause allergic reactions
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Source: Food and You 2 Wave 6
Amongst the respondents who reported having a food allergy, the most common food reported as causing a reaction was fruit (29%). Other common allergens were other nuts (for example almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashew nuts, pecans) (23%), peanuts (21%), crustaceans (for example, crabs, lobster, prawns, scampi) (17%) and molluscs (for example, mussels, snails, squid, whelks, clams, oysters) (10%). However, 14% of respondents reported an allergy to a food which was not in the given list, which included the 14 most potent and prevalent allergens (Figure 24)(footnote).
Figure 25. The food groups most likely to cause a food intolerance
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Source: Food and You 2 Wave 6
Amongst the respondents who reported having a food intolerance, the most common food group reported as causing a reaction was cow’s milk and products made with cow’s milk (for example, butter, cheese, cream, yoghurt) (39%). Other common allergens were cereals containing gluten (for example, wheat, rye, barley, oats) (23%). A fifth (20%) of respondents reported an intolerance to other foods which were not listed in the questionnaire (Figure 25)(footnote).
Confidence in avoiding unpleasant reactions when eating food in a home setting or from a food business
Figure 26. Confidence of respondents with a food hypersensitivity in avoiding a bad or unpleasant reaction when eating food in a home setting or from different types of food business
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Source Food and You 2 Wave 6
Respondents who had a food hypersensitivity were asked how confident they were in their ability to avoid food that might cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction when eating food from different food businesses and food that had been prepared or cooked in a home environment.
Almost all respondents were confident (for example, very or fairly confident) in their ability to avoid unpleasant reactions when eating food they had prepared or cooked at home (98%) or food prepared or cooked by someone else in the respondents’ home (95%). Around 8 in 10 (78%) were confident in their ability to avoid unpleasant reactions when food was prepared or cooked by someone else in their home.
Most respondents reported they were confident avoiding unpleasant reactions when eating food made to order from a restaurant or café (75%) and pre-packaged food bought in a shop or takeaway (68%). Respondents were less likely to report confidence when eating food ordered directly from a takeaway shop or restaurant (55%) and food ordered through an online ordering and delivery company (for example, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats) (47%) (Figure 26)(footnote).
Eating out with a food hypersensitivity
The FSA provides guidance for food businesses on providing allergen information. Food businesses in the retail and catering sector are required by law to provide allergen information and to follow labelling rules. The type of allergen information which must be provided depends on the type of food business. However, all food business operators must provide allergen information for pre-packed and non-pre-packed food and drink. Foods which are pre-packed or pre-packed for direct sale (PPDS) are required to have a label with a full ingredients list with allergenic ingredients emphasised.
How often people checked allergen information in advance when eating somewhere news
Respondents who suffer from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction after consuming certain foods were asked how often, if at all, they checked in advance that information was available which would allow them to identify food that might cause them a bad or unpleasant reaction when they ate out or ordered a takeaway from somewhere new.
Around a quarter (26%) of respondents always checked in advance that information was available which would allow them to identify food that might cause them a bad or unpleasant reaction, and 44% of respondents checked this information was available less often (i.e., most of the time, about half of the time, or occasionally). However, around 3 in 10 (29%) respondents never checked in advance that information was available which would allow them to identify food that might cause them a bad or unpleasant reaction(footnote).
Prepacked for direct sale (PAL) labelling
Respondents who suffer from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction were asked how likely they would be to buy a food product if they saw a label on the product which stated that the product may contain a food which might cause them to have a reaction. Over half (56%) of respondents reported that it was unlikely (for example, not very likely or not at all likely) that they would purchase the product, however 30% of respondents reported that it was likely (for example, very likely or fairly likely) that they would still purchase the product(footnote).
Availability and confidence in allergen information when eating out or ordering takeaways
Respondents who suffer from a bad or unpleasant physical reaction after consuming certain foods were asked how often information which allowed them to identify food that might cause them a bad or unpleasant reaction was readily available when eating out or buying food.
Around 1 in 710 (14%) respondents reported that this information was always readily available and 71% of respondents reported that this information was available less often (for example, most of the time, about half of the time, occasionally). However, 9% of respondents reported that this information was never readily available(footnote).
Respondents were asked how often they asked a member of staff for more information when it is not readily available. Around a quarter (24%) of respondents reported that they always asked staff for more information, whilst 51% did this less often (for example, most of the time, about half of the time, occasionally) and 24% of respondents never asked staff for more information(footnote).
Respondents were asked how comfortable they felt asking a member of staff for more information about food that might cause them a bad or unpleasant physical reaction. Around 7 in 10 (72%) respondents reported that they were comfortable (for example, very comfortable or fairly comfortable) asking staff for more information, however 17% of respondents reported that they were not comfortable doing this (for example, not very comfortable or not at all comfortable)(footnote).
Respondents were asked how confident the felt that the information provided would allow them to identify and avoid food that might cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction. Most respondents were confident (for example, very confident or fairly confident) that the information provided in writing (89%) or verbally by a member of staff (68%) would allow them to identify and avoid food that might cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction. However, 6% of respondents were not confident (for example, not very confident or not at all confident) that the information provided in writing (6%) or verbally by a member of staff (24%) would allow them to identify and avoid food that might cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction(footnote).
Confidence in allergen labelling
Respondents who go food shopping and take into consideration a person who has a food allergy or intolerance were asked how confident they were that the information provided on food labelling allows them to identify foods that will cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction. Overall, 90% of respondents stated that they were confident (for example, very confident or fairly confident) in the information provided(footnote).
Respondents were asked how confident they were in identifying foods that will cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction when buying foods which are sold loose, such as at a bakery or deli- counter. Respondents who bought food loose were more confident in identifying these foods in-store at a supermarket (78%), when buying food from a supermarket online (74%) and when shopping at independent food shops (73%). However, respondents were less confident when buying food from food markets or stalls (54%)(footnote).
Introduction
The FSA is responsible for protecting the public from foodborne diseases. This involves working with farmers, food producers and processors, and the retail and hospitality sectors to ensure that the food people buy is safe. The FSA gives practical guidance and recommendations to consumers on food safety and hygiene in the home.
Since people are responsible for the safe preparation and storage of food in their home, the Food and You 2 survey asks respondents about their food-related behaviours in the home, including whether specific foods are eaten, and knowledge and reported behaviour in relation to five important aspects of food safety: cleaning, cooking, chilling, avoiding cross-contamination and use-by dates. Food and You 2 also asks respondents about the frequency they prepare or consume certain types of food.
Two versions of the ‘Eating at home’ module have been created; the brief module which includes a limited number of key questions which are fielded annually, and a full version which includes additional questions and is fielded every 2 years. The brief ‘Eating at home’ module is reported in this chapter(footnote).
This chapter provides an overview of respondents’ knowledge and reported behaviours relating to food safety and other food-related behaviours.
Cleaning
Handwashing in the home
The FSA recommends that everyone should wash their hands before they prepare, cook or eat food, after touching raw food and before handling ready-to-eat food.
Almost half (46%) of respondents reported that they always wash their hands before eating, 51% of respondents reported doing this most of the time or less often and 3% reported never washing their hands before eating(footnote).
Around 7 in 10 (72%) respondents reported that they always wash their hands before preparing or cooking food, and 27% of respondents reported that they do not always (for example, most of the time or less often) do this(footnote).
Most respondents (91%) reported that they always wash their hands immediately after handling raw meat, poultry, or fish, and 8% of respondents reported that they do not always (for example, most of the time or less often) do this(footnote).
Handwashing when eating out
Respondents were asked, how often, if at all, they washed their hands or used hand sanitising gel or wipes before eating when they ate outside of their home. A third (33%) of respondents reported that they always washed their hands, used hand sanitising gel or wipes when they ate outside of their home, 58% did this most of the time or less often and 8% never did this(footnote).
Chilling
The FSA provides guidance on how to chill food properly to help stop harmful bacteria growing.
If and how respondents check fridge temperature
When asked what temperature the inside of a fridge should be, 62% of respondents reported that it should be between 0-5 degrees Celsius, as recommended by the FSA. A fifth (20%) of respondents reported that the temperature should be above 5 degrees, 2% reported that the temperature should be below 0 degrees, and 15% of respondents did not know what temperature the inside of their fridge should be(footnote).
Around 6 in 10 (61%) respondents who have a fridge reported that they monitored the temperature; either manually (49%) or via an internal temperature alarm (11%)(footnote). Of the respondents who monitor the temperature of their fridge, 82% reported that they check the temperature of their fridge at least once a month, as recommended by the FSA(footnote).
Cooking
The FSA recommends that cooking food at the right temperature and for the correct length of time will ensure that any harmful bacteria are killed. When cooking pork, poultry, and minced meat products the FSA recommends that the meat is steaming hot and cooked all the way through, that none of the meat is pink and that any juices run clear.
Around three quarters (76%) of respondents reported that they always cook food until it is steaming hot and cooked all the way through, however 23% reported that they do not always do this(footnote).
Respondents were asked to indicate how often they eat chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices(footnote). Around 9 in 10 (89%) respondents reported that they never eat chicken or turkey when it is pink or has pink juices. However, 9% of respondents reported eating chicken or turkey at least occasionally when it is pink or has pink juices(footnote).
Eating chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices (for example, at least occasionally) varied between different types of people in the following ways:
- age group: respondents aged between 16 and 24 years (19%) were more likely to report that they had eaten chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices compared to those aged 35 years or over (for example, 5% of those aged between 55 and 64 years).
- household size: respondents who lived in households with 5 or more people (20%) were more likely to report that they had eaten chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices compared to those who lived in smaller households (for example, 5% of those who lived in 4-person households).
- NS-SEC(footnote): full-time students (23%) and respondents who were long term unemployed and/or had never worked (22%) were more likely to report that they had eaten chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices compared to those in other occupational groups (for example, 5% of those in intermediate routine occupations).
- food security: respondents with marginal (14%)**, low (15%) and very low (16%) food security were more likely to report that they had eaten chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices compared to those with high (5%) food security.
- ethnic group: Asian or Asian British (25%) respondents were more likely to report that they had eaten chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices compared to white (7%) respondents(footnote).
Reheating
Figure 27. How respondents check whether reheated food is ready to eat
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Source: Food and You 2 Wave 6
Respondents were asked to indicate how they check food is ready to eat when they reheat it. The most common method was to check the middle is hot (57%), and the least common methods were to put a hand over the food or touch the food (14%) or use a thermometer or probe (14%) (Figure 27)(footnote).
The FSA recommends that food is only reheated once. When respondents were asked how many times they would reheat food, the majority reported that they would only reheat food once (82%), 9% would reheat food twice, and 4% would reheat food more than twice(footnote).
Leftovers
Respondents were asked how long they would keep leftovers in the fridge for. Around 6 in 10 (62%) respondents reported that they would eat leftovers within 2 days, 28% of respondents reported that they would eat leftovers within 3-5 days and 3% would eat leftovers after 5 days or longer(footnote).
Eating leftovers after 3 days or more varied between different types of people in the following ways:
- annual household income: respondents with a higher income were more likely to report that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more compared to those with a lower income. For example, 47% of respondents with an income between £64,000 and £95,999 would eat leftovers after 3 days or more compared to 22% of those with an income of less than £19,000.
- NS-SEC: respondents in managerial, administrative and professional occupations (37%) and full-time students (34%) were more likely to report that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more compared to those in many occupational groups (for example, 22% of those in semi-routine and routine occupations) and those who were long term unemployed and / or had never worked (15%).
- country: respondents in England (32%) were more likely to report that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more compared to those in Northern Ireland (22%). A quarter (25%) of those in Wales reported that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more.
- regions (England): respondents in London (40%), East of England (35%), and South-East England (35%) were more likely to report that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more compared to those in the West Midlands (23%) and North-West of England (25%).
- food security: respondents with high food security (35%) were more likely to report that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more compared to those with very low food security (20%). Around a quarter of those with marginal (26%) and low food (28%) security reported that they would eat leftovers after 3 days or more.
Avoiding cross-contamination
The FSA provides guidelines on how to avoid cross-contamination. The FSA recommends that people do not wash raw meat. Washing raw meat can spread harmful bacteria onto your hands, clothes, utensils, and worktops.
Respondents were asked how often, if at all, they washed raw chicken. Over half (56%) of respondents reported that they never wash raw chicken, however, 40% of respondents reported that they do this at least occasionally(footnote).
How and where respondents store raw meat and poultry in the fridge
The FSA recommends that refrigerated raw meat and poultry are kept covered, separately from ready-to-eat foods and stored at the bottom of the fridge to avoid cross-contamination.
Respondents were asked to indicate, from a range of responses, how they store meat and poultry in the fridge. Respondents were most likely to report storing raw meat and poultry in its original packaging (70%) or away from cooked foods (53%). Around 4 in 10 respondents reported storing raw meat and poultry in a sealed container (41%) and covered raw meat and poultry with film/foil (36%), with 15% keeping the product on a plate(footnote).
Most respondents (64%) reported storing raw meat and poultry at the bottom of the fridge, as recommended by the FSA. However, 21% of respondents reported storing raw meat and poultry wherever there is space in the fridge, 11% of respondents reported storing raw meat and poultry in the middle of the fridge, and 6% at the top of the fridge(footnote).
Use-by and best before dates
Respondents were asked about their understanding of the different types of date labels and instructions on food packaging, as storing food for too long or at the wrong temperature can cause food poisoning. Use-by dates relate to food safety. Best before (BBE) dates relate to food quality.
Respondents were asked to indicate which date shows that food is no longer safe to eat. Around two-thirds (65%) of respondents correctly identified the use-by date as the information which shows that food is no longer safe to eat. However, some respondents identified the best before date (9%) as the date which shows food is no longer safe to eat(footnote).
Around two-thirds (64%) of respondents reported that they always check use-by dates before they cook or prepare food, 34% of respondents reported checking use-by most of the time or less often, and just 1% reported never checking use-by dates(footnote).
Figure 28. How long after the use-by date respondents would consume different foods.
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Source: Food & You 2: Wave 6
Respondents who eat certain foods were asked when, if at all, is the latest that they would eat the type of food after the use-by date. Most reported that they would not eat shellfish (69%), or other fish (60%) past the use-by date. Around half of respondents would not eat raw meat (50%) or smoked fish (46%) past the use-by date. Bagged salad (72%) and cheese (72%) were the foods respondents were most likely to report eating at any point after the use-by date. Around 6 in 10 respondents would eat yoghurt (65%), milk (61%) and cooked meats (62%) at any point after the use-by date. A fifth (20%) of respondents would eat cheese 1 week or more after the use-by date (Figure 28)(footnote).
Background
In 2018 the FSA’s Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS) established a new Food and You Working Group to review the methodology, scope and focus of the Food and You survey. The Food and You Working Group provided a series of recommendations on the future direction of the Food and You survey to the FSA and ACSS in April 2019. Food and You 2 was developed from the recommendations.
The Food and You 2 survey replaced the biennial Food and You survey (2010-2018), biannual Public Attitudes Tracker (2010-2019) and annual Food Hygiene Rating Scheme (FHRS) Consumer Attitudes Tracker (2014-2019). The Food and You survey has been an Official Statistic since 2014. Due to the difference in methodology between the Public Attitudes Tracker, FHRS Consumer Attitudes Tracker and Food and You survey (2010-2018) it is not possible to compare the data collected in Food and You 2 (2020 onward) with these earlier data. Comparisons can be made between the different waves of Food and You 2. A report which provides an overview of key trends from Food and You 2: Wave 1 (fieldwork: 29 July to 6 October 2020) to Wave 6 (fieldwork: 12 October 2022 to 10 January 2023) is expected to be published late 2023.
Previous publication in this series include:
- Food and You 2: Wave 1 Key Findings (March 2021)
- Food and You 2: Wave 2 Key Findings (July 2021)
- Food and You 2: Wave 3 Key Findings (January 2022)
- Food and You 2: Wave 4 Key Findings (August 2022)
- Food and You 2: Wave 5 Key Findings (March 2023)
Methodology
The Food and You 2 survey is commissioned by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The fieldwork is conducted by Ipsos. Food and You 2 is a biannual survey. Fieldwork for Wave 6 was conducted between 12 October 2022 and 10 January 2023.
Food and You 2 is a sequential mixed-mode ‘push-to-web’ survey (summary of method below). Push-to-web helps to reduce the response bias that otherwise occurs with online-only surveys. This method is accepted for government surveys and national statistics, including the 2021 Census and 2019/2020 Community Life Survey.
A random sample of addresses (selected from the Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File) received a letter inviting up to two adults (aged 16 or over) in the household to complete the online survey. A first reminder letter was sent to households that had not responded to the initial invitation. A postal version of the survey accompanied the second reminder letter for those who did not have access to the internet or preferred to complete a postal version of the survey. A third and final reminder was sent to households if the survey had not been completed. Respondents were given a gift voucher for completing the survey.
The sample of main and reserve addresses(footnote) was stratified by region (with Wales and Northern Ireland being treated as separate regions), and within region (or country) by local authority (district in Northern Ireland) to ensure that the issued sample was spread proportionately across the local authorities. National deprivation scores were used as the final level of stratification within the local authorities - in England the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), in Wales the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) and in Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM).
Due to the length and complexity of the online questionnaire it was not possible to include all questions in the postal version of the questionnaire. The postal version of the questionnaire needed to be shorter and less complex to encourage a high response rate. To make the postal version of the questionnaire shorter and less complex, two versions were produced. The two versions of the postal survey are referred to as the ‘Eating Out’ and ‘Eating at Home’ postal questionnaires. See the Technical Report for further details.
All data collected by Food and You 2 are self-reported. The data are the respondents own reported attitudes, knowledge and behaviour relating to food safety and food issues. As a social research survey, Food and You 2 cannot report observed behaviours. Observed behaviour in kitchens has been reported in Kitchen Life, an ethnographic study which used a combination of observation, video observation and interviews to gain insight into domestic kitchen practices. This study will be updated through Kitchen Life 2, which is in progress now and due to report in 2023.
The minimum target sample size for the survey is 4,000 households (2,000 in England, 1,000 in Wales, 1,000 in Northern Ireland), with up to two adults in each household invited to take part as mentioned above. For Wave 6 a total of 5,991 adults (aged 16 years or over) from 4,217 households across England (3,032 adults), Northern Ireland (1,644 adults), and Wales (1,315 adults), completed the survey. An overall response rate of 28.8% was achieved (England 30.3%, Wales 28.7%, Northern Ireland 26.5%). Sixty-four per cent (63.8%) of respondents completed the survey online and 36.2% completed the postal version of the survey. The postal responses from 95 respondents were removed from the data set as the respondent had completed both the online and postal survey. Further details about the response rates are available in the Technical Report.
Weighting was applied to ensure the data are as close as possible to being representative of the socio-demographic and sub-groups in the population, as is usual practice in government surveys. The weighting applied to the Food and You 2 data helps to compensate for variations in within-household individual selection, for response bias, and for the fact that some questions were only asked in one of the postal surveys. Further details about weighting approach used and the weights applied to the Food and You 2: Wave 6 data are available in the Technical Report.
The data have been checked and verified by four members of the Ipsos research team and two members of the FSA Statistics branch. Further details about checks of the data are available in the Technical Report. Descriptive analysis and statistical tests have been performed by Ipsos. Quantum (statistical software) was used by Ipsos to calculate the descriptive analysis and statistical tests (t-tests).
The p-values that test for statistical significance are based on t-tests comparing the weighted proportions for a given response within that socio-demographic and sub-group breakdown. An adjustment has been made for the effective sample size after weighting, but no correction is made for multiple comparisons.
Reported differences between socio-demographic and sub-groups typically have a minimum difference of 10 percentage points between groups and are statistically significant at the 5% level (p<0.05). However, some differences between respondent groups are included where the difference is fewer than 10 percentage points when the finding is notable or of interest. Percentage calculations are based only on respondents who provided a response. Reported values and calculations are based on weighted totals.
Technical terms and definitions
Statistical significance is indicated at the 5% level (p<0.05). This means that where a significant difference is reported, there is reasonable confidence that the reported difference is reflective of a real difference at the population level.
Food security means that all people always have access to enough food for a healthy and active lifestyle (World Food Summit, 1996). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created a series of questions which indicate a respondent’s level of food security. Food and You 2 incorporates the 10 item U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module and uses a 12 month time reference period. Respondents are referred to as being food secure if they are classified as having high food security (no reported indications of food-access problems or limitations), or marginal food security (one or two reported indications—typically of anxiety over food sufficiency or shortage of food in the house. Little or no indication of changes in diets or food intake). Respondents are referred to as being food insecure if they are classified as having low food security (reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet. Little or no indication of reduced food intake) or very low food security (reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake).
NS-SEC (The National Statistics Socio-economic classification) is a classification system which provides an indication of socio-economic position based on occupation and employment status.
Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) / Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) / Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure (NIMDM) is the official measure of relative deprivation of a geographical area. IMD/WIMD/NIMDM classification is assigned by postcode or place name. IMD/WIMD/NIMDM is a multidimensional calculation which is intended to represent the living conditions in the area, including income, employment, health, education, access to services, housing, community safety and physical environment. Small areas are ranked by IMD/WIMD/NIMDM; this is done separately for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Advisory Committee for Social Science (ACSS)
- Census 2011. Office of National Statistics
- Duffy, B., Smith, K., Terhanian, G., & Bremer, J. (2005). Comparing data from online and face-to-face surveys. International Journal of Market Research, 47(6), 615-639. https://doi.org/10.1177/147078530504700602
- Food and You (2010-2019)
- Food Standards Agency. Introducing Food and You 2. (March, 2020).
- Gaskell, G. (2019). Review of FSA’s Food and You Survey. 2 April 2019 ACSS Meeting – Food and You Review Report (Paper 3.5).
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Food security.
- Wills, W., Meah, A., Dickinson, A., & Short, F. (2013). Domestic kitchen practices: Findings from the ‘Kitchen Life’ study. University of Hertfordshire Report for the Food Standards Agency
- World Food Summit 1996, Rome Declaration on World Food Security.