FSA survey reveals improvements in attitudes to healthy eating in Wales
Wednesday 23 March 2005
Ref: WA09/05CK
The fifth annual Consumer Attitudes Surveyhas been published by the Food Standards Agency, reveals that in Wales there has been a significant public improvement in attitudes to healthy eating.
The number of people claiming to have eaten five portions of fruit and vegetables the previous day has risen to over half of all consumers, representing a significant increase of 26 percentage points since 2003. Awareness of the 'at least five a day' target when eating fruit and vegetables has increased from 47% in 2000 to 63% in 2004.
These results point to an increased understanding of this important message and could suggest a significant change in eating habits.
There is also concern about salt, fat and sugar content in food. More people in Wales than ever before are looking for information about levels of salt, fat and sugar on food labels. Over the past five years, of those people who look at food labels, the number of people who claimed to look for nutritional information has risen from just over half of consumers in 2000, to three-quarters in 2004. However, Welsh consumers also had increasing concerns about the accuracy of those food labels. This has risen from 35% in 2000 to 47% in 2004.
There were other concerns too: food safety is top of the list, and although concerns about food hygiene standards in most types of retail outlet have remained stable overall since 2003, significantly more respondents were concerned about the standards of market stalls selling meat.
Joy Whinney, Director of Food Standards Agency Wales said: 'A key objective of the Food and Well Being Nutrition Strategy for Wales is to increase the uptake of a healthy balanced diet. I am pleased to see these positive moves in consumers' attitudes towards their diet. Over the last five years the trend among consumers has been towards healthier eating and an increase in demand for reliable and practical information on all aspects of nutrition, food and health. People are more worried about levels of salt, fat and sugar in food and the accuracy of food labels.'
Notes to Editors
The Consumer Attitudes Survey is conducted annually by the Food Standards Agency to provide a better understanding of attitudes, knowledge, behaviour, and awareness among the public with regard to food standards and safety. The first study, in 2000 (published in January 2001) enabled benchmarks to be set, and each additional study allows the Agency to track changes in behaviour and attitude, and measure trends. Copies of the Consumer Attitudes Survey 2004 are available from the link at the foot of this page.
MORI conducted 742 interviews among a representative sample of the Welsh population. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes between 9 September and 15 October 2004.
To meet the growing demand for information about nutrition and healthy eating, the Food Standards Agency has launched a new website - www.eatwell.gov.uk - dedicated to providing reliable and practical advice on all aspects of food, diet and health, as well as helpful tips on topics such as understanding food labels. The Agency's main web-based source of food news and in-depth reports, guidance and scientific research continues to be on this website, food.gov.uk and www.salt.gov.uk is the Agency's dedicated site on salt.
Related links
(pdf 911KB)11th Floor, Southgate House,
Wood Street,
Cardiff CF10 1EW
Telephone: 02920 678916
Fax: 02920 678918/9
Email: caroline.kitson@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk