Consumer concern over convenience eating
UK consumers are worried that convenience eating could cause them to lose a connection with the food they eat, suggests new research published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Participants in the study were concerned that the growing trends of convenience foods, online grocery shopping and ‘eating on the go’ could decrease the social and cultural importance of sharing meals. They worry about a loss of connection with where food comes from, and with each other, as consumers cook and eat together less as families and communities.
This is one of a number of findings from a public dialogue commissioned by the FSA to explore ‘Our Food Future’, a study to help understand how changes to the food system might impact on consumers in the UK. It aims to bring the consumer voice into the debate about the future of the food system and collect important evidence to inform future policy, working in partnership with other policy makers, industry and retailers.
Steve Wearne, director of policy at the FSA, comments, “The food supply chain is increasingly complex and already under pressure from a growing world population.
“It’s the FSA’s role to understand how this affects the interests of consumers and engage with people about how the food system should be shaped for the future.”
Other research findings show:
- Increased clarity on food labels has been widely welcomed by consumers, with many hoping the food industry will provide more information on a wider range of food issues
- Consumers are concerned that access to healthy and nutritious food could become a luxury as pricing prompts people to buy cheaper, processed food
- Participants hope that government and regulators will play a more visible role in the future of food, to ensure that their interests are protected in a more complex world.
