Food Standards Agency (FSA) - Food and You 2 survey results

Between 18 October 2021 and 10 January 2022, 5,796 adults from 4,026 households across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland took part in the FSA’s ‘Food and You 2’ survey, which is carried out biannually by the FSA. The survey measures self-reported consumer knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to food safety and other food issues.

A summary of key findings can be found here but those of likely more interest to the hospitality industry are set out below

“Concerns about food  

• Most respondents (86%) had no concerns about the food they eat 
• When prompted, the most common concerns amongst all respondents were food waste (63%), the amount of sugar in food (59%) and animal welfare (56%)”

“Confidence in food safety, authenticity and the food supply chain  

• Most respondents (92%) reported that they were confident that the food they buy is safe to eat and more than 8 in 10 (86%) respondents were confident that the information on food labels is accurate 
• Around three quarters of respondents (76%) reported that they had confidence in the food supply chain 
• Respondents were more likely to report confidence in farmers (88%) and shops and supermarkets (85%) than in takeaways (61%), and food delivery services (45%)” 

“Eating out and takeaways 

• Around half of respondents had eaten food in a restaurant (53%), from a café, coffee shop or sandwich shop (either to eat in or to take out) (52%) or ordered a takeaway directly from a takeaway shop or restaurant (50%) in the previous 4 weeks 
• Over a third of respondents had eaten food from a fast-food outlet (either to eat in or take out) (38%) or ordered a takeaway from an online food delivery company (for example, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats) (35%) in the previous 4 weeks  
• Most respondents (89%) had heard of the FHRS and around 4 in 10 (41%) respondents reported checking the food hygiene rating of a business in the previous 12 months”