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Food Safety and the New Zealand public: a 2005 quantitative study

Background

This study commissioned by the NZFSA and undertaken by UMR Research is a quantitative study that investigates topics associated with food safety issues among New Zealanders. It is a follow on from a 2003 study.

This 2005 study repeats (with some minor question changes and additions) the quantitative component of the 2003 study and provides comparisons between the two sets of results.

The key objectives of the research were to measure:

• awareness of, interest in and knowledge of food safety issues;

• level of concern about food safety issues at different outlets and for different foods;

• perceptions of whether food safety in New Zealand is getting better or worse;

• awareness of appropriate food safety practices;

• attitudes towards food safety;

• awareness of and confidence in Government monitoring and enforcement of food safety standards;

• incidence of food poisoning and observed poor food safety practices, and;

• awareness of the NZFSA.

Summary of Changes between 2003 and 2005

The survey shows very little change from the 2003 results. Some small movements (4% to

7%) were recorded for some questions and these are summarised below.

• An increase in confidence about the strict monitoring and enforcement of food safety standards in New Zealand.

• A small increase in the number of respondents who study the ingredients labels on food “very carefully”.

• A small increase in levels of declared knowledge about food safety issues.

• A small increase in the number of respondents who nominated the NZFSA as the organisation responsible for food safety standards in New Zealand.

• A small decline in concern about the safety of shellfish and food displayed in warming ovens such as pies.

• A small reduction in concern about barbeques, pubs and cafes.

Key Findings Synopsis

The majority of respondents remained interested in food safety issues in New Zealand. Respondents also continued to express reasonably high interest in receiving information on food safety issues. Females continued to declare stronger interest in food safety issues than males.

Levels of knowledge on food safety issues strengthened slightly with 59% of respondents declaring that they knew ‘a lot’ or ‘a fair amount’ about food safety issues. Nearly half (46%) of respondents declared some concern about food safety issues, but the majority (56%) continued to declare that food safety standards were getting better.

Forty one per cent said New Zealand’s food safety standard was better than other similar Western countries. The types of foods that respondents were most concerned about remained unchanged from the 2003 results. 83% expressed concern about chicken, 78% (down 4%) for shellfish and 76% (down 5%) for food displayed in warming ovens such as pies.

Places that respondents were most concerned about were, buffets and smorgasbords (58% concerned) mobile food outlets (57%), Asian and ethnic restaurants (53%) and also food halls (53%).

Food safety issues that respondents were most concerned about included salmonella (80%

concerned), listeria (64%), use of pesticides to grow food (63%) and antibiotics in meat (62%).

Similar to the 2003 results, this year just over 2 in 10 respondents declared that they had

experienced food poisoning over the last two years, with most of these (83%) occurring outside the home. Around half of those surveyed declared that they had observed poor food safety practices in outlets over the last two years.

This survey also sought views on the desired level of controls for fundraising events, such as sausage sizzles. Almost two thirds (63 per cent) of survey respondents said they were not against government controls on food handling practices at fundraising barbeques and food stalls.

Full Quantitative Research Report

This full report on the study, commissioned by the NZFSA and undertaken by UMR Research, provides comprehensive benchmark information on attitudes towards food safety issues in New Zealand.