Food labels: clear progress to be made
BSE and pesticides, reveals a recent consumer survey conducted by
the UK Food Standards Agency. Although they are more aware about
the meaning behind food labels there is clear room for improvement.
People are becoming more aware of healthy eating and the meaning behind food labels, according to a recent consumer survey from the UK Food Standards Agency.
Each year the Agency commissions a Consumer Attitudes to Food Survey to investigate the views of more than 3000 people across the UK. In the latest survey, the Agency's second, the results show consumers are most concerned about issues such as food poisoning, BSE and pesticides. But it also shows that they are increasingly aware of information on food.
The survey reveals that since 2000, there has been a small but significant increase across the UK in the understanding of the terms 'use by' (33 per cent in 2000 to 40 per cent in 2001) and a small increase in understanding of 'best before' (34 per cent in 2000 to 36 per cent in 2001).
But better clarification of labels is certainly needed as the survey showed that in 2001 43 per cent of UK consumers still did not understand the meaning of '80 per cent fat free' and 66 per cent of respondents could not correctly pick the main ingredient from a sample food label.
On FoodNavigator.com today we report in the news on the continuing debate in the US and Canada relating to genetically modified foods. In the UK, the FSA survey shows that levels of concern about food containing GM ingredients have fallen among English consumers - from 25 per cent in 2000, to 17 per cent in 2001 who claim to look for information about GM on food labels.
Commenting on the survey Martin Paterson, Deputy Director General of the UK Food and Drink Federation said: "It is good news to see that the messages on food safety put out by the FSAand the food industry are making an impact. However, there is still morework to be done, and the FDF will continue to raise awareness of these issues especially during its National Food Safety Week 10-16 June."
In terms of specific food issues that are of concern to consumers, 38 per cent cited GM foods, down by 5 per cent on the previous year. At the top of the list was food poisoning, cited by 59 per cent of those polled. In second place came BSE at 55 per cent of those polled (down 6%). Animal feed and pesticides came joint third at 50 per cent - up by 4 per cent. The researchers attribute this rise in concern to the Food and Mouth Disease outbreak.
Meat continues to worry consumers, with 56 per cent mentioning it spontaneously as a particular food safety concern. Raw meat was cited by 49 per cent. Both figures were broadly similar to the 2000 response as was the number of households with a vegetarian (5 per cent).Unlike the 2000 survey, which asked consumers what foods they ate, the 2001 poll also asked what consumers if there were any foods they never ate. The results showed that 38 per cent said they never touched organic food, 17 per cent said they never ate frozen or packaged convenience foods and 14 per cent avoided fish. Clear areas for improvement for the food manufacturer and retailer.
On the subject of dining out more than one in three consumers (38 per cent) dine out at restaurants either regularly or occasionally, topped only by fast food outlets (38 per cent), and takeaways (49 per cent).
There has been a rise in people who say they have improved their healthy eating habits in the past year, but confusion remains over what constitutes a healthy diet, the FSA report.
Forty per cent of those polled felt their diet had improved during the year, a 2 per cent rise from the previous survey. By eating a more healthy diet, they tended to mean they were eating more fruit and vegetables, and less foods containing fat or salt.
But despite non-stop media attention devoted to the benefits of healthy eating only a quarter said they were eating more bread, cereals, pasta, rice or potatoes - a slight fall from 2000. Campaigns to raise awareness about the advantages of eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day may be starting to take effect as nearly half the people surveyed knew that they should eat at least "five a day" - a significant rise on the previous year.
For further details about the report visi the FSAwebsite.
