Food & You 2 trends: Chapter 6: Eating at Home

Question: When you are at home, how often, if at all, do you … a) wash your hands before starting to prepare or cook food? b) wash your hands immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish? Responses: always; most of the time; about half the time; occasionally; never; don’t know; a) I don’t cook, b) I don’t cook meat, poultry or fish, I don’t cook. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 = 33,149 (range between 4,431 in Wave 8 and 8,922 in Wave 1), all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3 or 7.

Question: When you are at home, how often, if at all, do you wash your hands before eating? Responses: always; most of the time; about half the time; occasionally; never. Total base across waves 1, 5, 6 and 8 = 25,739, (range between 4,757 in Wave 8 and 9,319 in Wave 1), all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 2, 3, 4, 7.

Question: When eating outside of the home, how often, if at all, do you wash your hands, or use hand sanitising gel or wipes before eating? Responses: always, most of the time, About half the time, Occasionally, Never, Don’t know. Total base across waves 4, 5, 6 and 8 = 21,384 (range between 4,755 in Wave 4 and 6,770 in Wave 5), all online respondents and those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household. Please note: this question was not included in Waves 1, 2, 3 or 7.

Question: What do you think the temperature inside your fridge should be? Responses: less than 0 degrees C (less than 32 degrees F), between 0 and 5 degrees C (32 to 41 degrees F), more than 5 but less than 8 degrees C (42 to 46 degrees F), 8 to 10 degrees C (47 to 50 degrees F), more than 10 degrees C (over 50 degrees F), other, I don't have a fridge, don’t know. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 = 35,271, all online respondents and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire, excluding those who don’t have a fridge. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3 or 7.

Question: Do you, or anyone else in your household, ever check your fridge temperature? Responses: yes, no, I don't need to - it has an alarm if it is too hot or cold, don’t know. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8 = 35,261 (range between 4,740 in Wave 8 and 9,305 in Wave 1), all online respondents, and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, excluding those who don't have a fridge. Please note: this question was not included in Waves 3 or 7.

Question: How often, if at all, do you cook food until it is steaming hot and cooked all the way through? Responses: always, most of the time, about half of the time, occasionally, I don't cook food, never, don’t know. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8 = 33,149 (range between 4,431 in Wave 8 and 8,922 in Wave 1), online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household. Please note: this question was not included in Waves 3 or 7.

Question: How often, if at all, do you eat chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink or red juices? Responses: always, most of the time, about half of the time, occasionally, never, don’t know. Base = 32,686, (range between 4,381 in Wave 4 and 8,672 in Wave 1) all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire, who are not vegan, pescatarian or vegetarian, and who do eat chicken/turkey. Please note: this question was not included in Waves 3 or 7.

Question: When reheating food, how do you know when it is ready to eat? (Select all that apply). Responses: I check the middle is hot, I follow the instructions on the label, I can see its bubbling, I use a timer to ensure it has been cooked for a certain amount of time, I check it's an even temperature throughout, I can see steam coming from it, I taste it, I stir it, I put my hand over it/touch it, I use a thermometer/probe, None of the above, I don't check. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4-6 7 and 8 = 31, 388, (range between 4,208 in Wave 4 and 8,375 in Wave 1) all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household, excluding ‘I don't reheat food’ and ‘not stated’. Please note: this question was not included in Waves 3 or 7.

Question: How many times would you consider reheating food after it was cooked for the first time? Responses: not at all, once, twice, more than twice, don’t know, I don't reheat food. Total base across all waves = 23,130, (range between 4,402 in Wave 2 and 5,918 in Wave 5) all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, who reheat food using one of the methods in the previous question. Please note: this question is not comparable in Wave 1, and was not included in Wave 3 or 7.

Question: When is the latest you would consume any leftovers stored in the fridge? Responses: the same day, within 1-2 days, within 3-5 days, more than 5 days later, it varies too much, don't know. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4-6 and 8= 35,339 (range between 4,757 in Wave 8 and 9, 319 in Wave 1), all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3 or 7.

Question: How often, if at all, do you wash raw chicken? Responses: always, most of the time, about half of the time, occasionally, never, don’t know. Total base across waves 1, 2, 4-6 and 8 = 33,058 (range between 4,407 in wave 8 and 8,922 in wave 1), all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3 or 7.

Question: Which of these shows when food is no longer safe to eat? Responses: use-by date, best before date, sell by date, display until date, all of these, it depends, none of these, don’t know. Total base across waves 2, 4-6, 8= 26,020 (range between 4,757 in Wave 8 and 6,770 in Wave 5), all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 1, 3 or 7.

Question: How often, if at all, do you check use-by dates when you are about to cook or prepare food? Responses: always, most of the time, about half of the time, occasionally, never, it varies too much to say, I don't cook/prepare food, don’t know. Total base across Waves 1, 2, 4-6, 8 = 33,149 (range between 4,431 in Wave 1 and 8,922 in Wave 1), all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3 or 7.