Eight out of 10 adults admit to taking food safety for granted according to new research from YouGov, commissioned by the Red Tractor Food Assurance Scheme.
The survey of more than 2,000 UK adults looked at people’s concerns about the food they buy and how their confidence in UK produced food has been restored.
The research also revealed a marked difference in the levels of trust between supermarkets and restaurants when it comes to their food standards. In the survey, 71% of UK adults said they were confident that the food they buy from a supermarket has been produced to high standards and that they know where it comes from; compared to only half of people who feel confident about standards and traceability when eating out at a restaurant or café.
Meanwhile, 76% of people admit that they take food being produced to high safety and food standards for granted. This increases to 79% for Londoners, who are least likely to be concerned about food safety.
Jim Moseley, Red Tractor Assurance’s chief executive, said: “If people are now taking food safety for granted, then it demonstrates that we’ve been doing something right.
“Red Tractor was created almost two decades ago, after a spate of food scares and confidence in British food and farming was at a low. Our standards were designed to ensure food that is produced is safe, traceable and farmed carefully, in order to transform and rebuild trust in British farming and food quality from farm to pack.”
Mr Moseley added: “However, the success in driving up British food standards must not be undermined by a potential influx of imported food produced to standards that are currently deemed illegal in this country, should we be faced with a no-deal Brexit. There’s no more important time for people to recognise that not all food is produced to the same rigorous standards as the UK.
“There is one simple way we can all help foster a better future for British agriculture, farmers, growers and producers, is to look for the Red Tractor logo when grocery shopping or dining out.”
