Research conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Red Tractor
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The UK’s Trust in Food Index 2022
A report on the nation’s trust in the food it consumes
Research conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Red Tractor
CLICK HERE to download the full report into UK attitudes to food and drink
“This report provides valuable insights into the impact that the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living are having on the choices the public face when they buy food – and the trust they have in those choices. It is encouraging to see that despite these pressures, overall trust in UK food remains high. This reflects the excellent quality of UK produce and the high animal welfare, safety and environmental standards our food is produced to.”
Sir Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby and Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee,
view the report summary in the video below
“With the impact of the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis taking hold, it’s no surprise that confidence in so many aspects of daily life has fallen. While British food continues to be highly trusted, our latest Trust in Food Index shows that as people are forced to trade down into cheaper products, they lose confidence in the way the food is produced. As an industry we must work together to reassure people that whatever their price range, they can be confident in the standards and safety of food produced in the UK- people should never have to choose between price and food safety”.
Christine Tacon, Chair, Red Tractor
Overall, trust in UK institutions has gone down in the past year, but there is still high levels of trust for British food
The cost-of-living crisis is having a big impact on buying behaviour, as people purchase less meat, fruit, and vegetables, and trade down to value ranges
A strong assurance and regulatory system is the top reason why people trust British food
“Customers are more price focused than ever but still expect retailers to deliver high standards in animal welfare and the environment. Red Tractor addresses that challenge, ensuring high standards of UK food production, whilst delivering on value.”
Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability, British Retail Consortium
Four in ten shoppers say they believe they are now having to buy food produced to lower food safety and animal welfare standards
Consumers have concerns about the long-term impact of Brexit and trade deals on UK food, with 43 per cent of people worry about the prospect of more imported food
The food sector must work together to reassure consumers that the food safety and animal welfare standards of assured British food is high. It should never be a choice between high standards and price.
This report confirms that high UK food standards are the number one driver of trust in British food. Work at the FSA enables people to have confidence that the food they buy, whether from value or premium ranges, meets the same standards for food safety. We also support schemes like Red Tractor that provide further assurances, helping people to check that the foods they choose have been responsibly sourced, including high animal welfare standards.”
Professor Susan Jebb, Chair, Food Standards Agency
CLICK HERE to read more about the 2021 Trust in Food Index
In this section
Download the report in full
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Data Tables
Fieldwork was undertaken between 26th – 31st May 2022. The survey was carried out online.
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