The FSA is committed to making sure that understanding of what people throughout the food chain think, feel and do informs our risk management and communication. Understanding the FSA’s impact on the world around us is also important, and the data gathered through our work helps us demonstrate our performance and to be accountable to the FSA Board and the UK public. We publish reports and data from all our social science research.
Research reports
Food and You 2: Wave 6 Technical report
This technical report is for Wave 6 and gives details about each wave of fieldwork.
Evaluation of the use of remote assessments for FHRS requested re-inspections in England
The study looked to understand experiences of remote assessment, how it was being used, and its benefits and limitations among LAs and food business operators (FBOs). It also looked at barriers and facilitators to remote assessment by LAs.
Consumer Insights Tracker Report March 2022 - March 2023
The FSA's yearly Consumer Insights Tracker covering the year from March 2022 to March 2023
What is the cost of a healthy food basket in Northern Ireland in 2022?
This report presents the cost of the minimum essential food basket for four household types.
What is the cost of a healthy food basket in Northern Ireland in 2022?
This report presents the cost of the minimum essential food basket for four household types.
Consumer insights tracker (April 2022 to June 2023)
Research and consumer insight on behaviours and attitudes to food insecurity, food availability, consumer concerns and confidence in the food chain.
The Evolution of Personalised Nutrition
Health and wellbeing and susceptibility to disease are causally linked to food and nutrition intake, an observation that has informed dietary advice for centuries. However, physiological response to different food types varies greatly by individual, meaning that a “one size fits all” approach to nutritional advice may be inadequate to ensure optimum health outcomes.
Testing the impact of overt and covert ordering interventions on sustainable consumption choices: a randomised controlled trial
A report into whether specific choice architecture intervention in an online supermarket environment can shift consumer choices towards more sustainable options.
Local Authority Recovery Plan Assurance Assessment: Summary Report (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) February 2023
Between April and July 2022 the FSA local authority audit teams delivered a programme of assessments of local authorities performance against the requirements of the COVID-19 Recovery Plan (the Recovery Plan).
Developing rapid and effective communications testing
Findings report
Exploring food behaviours in the UK student population: Interim findings
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), in association with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), commissioned this research to explore the knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of university students relating to food safety and security.
Food and You 2: Northern Ireland Wave 3-4 Key Findings
The survey measures self-reported consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to food safety and other food issues amongst adults in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland.
Qualitative research to explore consumer attitudes to food sold online
This research report provides findings from 12 online discussion groups conducted via video with a range of consumers split across different demographics in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Qualitative research exploring community food provision
This report explores the journey that food takes from suppliers to end consumers in the community food provision sector in the UK, to understand what support community providers might need in relation to food safety.
Food and You 2: Wave 4 Technical report
This report provides detailed results for Wave 4, which was conducted between 18 October 2021 and 10 January 2022.
Food and You 2 - Wave 4
Research from Food and You 2: Wave 4
Food and You 2: Wave 4 Key findings
The survey measures self-reported consumers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to food safety and other food issues amongst adults in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Consumer insights tracker report: key findings from December 2021 to March 2022
This publication provides a summary of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) latest consumer insights tracker data.
UK Public’s Interests, Needs and Concerns Around Food
This research has been conducted to feed into the development of our 2022-2027 strategy. The main research report provides a detailed snapshot of UK consumer interests, needs and concerns around food and what drives these.
A rapid evidence review of the Psychology of Food Choice
This report provides a rapid review of the evidence of the psychology of food choice, consolidating current knowledge and direction of development of research in relation to the psychology of food choice.
A rapid review of the acceptability and impact of approaches to reduce the salt, fat and sugar content of people’s diets on consumers and industry
A report on the findings of reviews reporting on the acceptability and efficacy of population-scale initiatives to reduce fat, salt and sugar consumption.