Consumer Attitudes to Food Survey

Published: 28 March 2008

The eighth annual Consumer Attitudes to Food Survey......

.... published by the Food Standards Agency (March 2008), points to increased confidence among the public in the food they are consuming and to wider food issues.
Highlights relating to diet and nutrition include:
. More than three quarters (78%) of consumers are now aware that we should be eating at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables each day and 58% claimed to be putting this into practice by eating at least '5-a-day'.

. The amount of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar in foods are still the top issues of concern among consumers and the quantity of fat and salt are the most commonly checked for nutritional information on labels. However, the percentage of people who are concerned about these is slightly down since 2006 - fat to 40% from 46%, saturated fat to 37% from 44%, salt to 50% from 54% and sugar to 39% from 43% in 2006.

. Nine out of ten respondents claimed that healthy eating is important to them, and 87% also believed that a limited budget is not a barrier to healthy eating, with those aged over 50 more likely to agree with this sentiment than any younger age group.

Highlights of the latest survey relating to food safety include:
. A decrease since 2006 in concern over many food safety issues including additives (35% down from 38%), food poisoning (36% down from 42%), GM foods (20% down from 25%)

Andrew Wadge, Chief Scientist at the Food Standards Agency, commented: 'This most recent survey is encouraging as it shows the majority of people do realise how important it is to eat healthily, and many are also savvy when it comes to shopping around and checking labels.'