F&Y2 Wave 6: Chapter 6 Eating at home

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 1)}.

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 2)}.

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 3)}.

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 4)}.

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 5)}. 

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 6)}.

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 7)}. 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 8).

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 9)}.

Respondents were asked to indicate how often they eat chicken or turkey when the meat is pink or has pink juices ^{(footnote 10)}. 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 11)}. 

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 12)}: 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 13)}.

Reheating

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 14)}.

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 15)}.

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 16)}.

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 17)}.  

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 18)}.

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 19)}.

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 20)}. 

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 21)}.

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 22)}.