F&Y2 trends: Chapter 5: Eating at home

Question: When you are at home, how often, if at all, do you wash your hands before starting to prepare or cook food. Responses: always, most of the time, about half the time, occasionally, never, I don’t cook, don’t know. Base= 28718, 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.

Question: When you are at home, how often, if at all, do you wash your hands immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish. Responses: always, most of the time, About half the time, Occasionally, Never, I don’t cook meat, poultry or fish, Don’t know. Base= 28718, all online respondents and those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household, who ever do some food preparation or cooking for their household. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3.

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. Base= 30582, all online respondents and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3.

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. Base= 30521, 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 Wave 3.

Question: How often, if at all, do you or someone else in your household check the temperature of the fridge? Responses: at least daily, 2-3 times a week, once a week, less than once a week but more than once a month, once a month, four times a year, 1-2 times a year, never/less often, don’t know. Base= 15324, all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, where someone in household checks fridge temperature. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3.

Question: How do you (or someone else in your household) normally check the temperature? Responses: Check the temperature display built into the fridge, Check the setting / gauge, Put a thermometer in the fridge and check, Feel food inside to see if it is cold, Check for ice or condensation, Other, Don’t know. Base= 15324, all online respondents and all those who completed the relevant postal questionnaire, where someone in household checks fridge temperature. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3. There has been minor rewording of the question across the waves.

Question: How do you store raw meat and poultry in the fridge? Please select all that apply. Responses: away from cooked foods, covered with film/foil, in a sealed container, in its original packaging, on a plate, I don't buy or store meat or poultry, I don't store raw meat/poultry in the fridge I don't have a fridge, Don’t know. Base= 30582, all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3.

Question: Where in the fridge do you store raw meat and poultry? Responses:  wherever there is space, at the top of the fridge, in the middle of the fridge, at the bottom of the fridge. Base= 27704, all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire, who store raw meat/poultry in the fridge. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3.

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. Base= 28718, 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.

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 = 28287, 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 Wave 3.

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. Base= 28038, 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 Wave 3.

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. Base= 27477, 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 was not included in Wave 3.

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. Base= 30582, all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 3.

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. Base = 28718, 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.

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. Base= 21263, all online respondents, and those answering the relevant postal questionnaire. Please note: this question was not included in Wave 1 or Wave 3.

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. Base= 28718, 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.