Red Tractor, the UK’s quality assurance brand, just compiled results of its second Trust in Food index – it shows that trust in Irish food products in Britain have increased by one point to 74%, but that confidence in food coming from in the UK dropped from 81% to 73%. So, it appears that UK consumers’ trust in Irish food is currently higher than that of British food.
The survey highlights the fact that shoppers have been forced to change their buying habits due to the current high cost of living.
Worryingly for the Irish beef and lamb sectors, some 30% of UK consumers said they were buying less meat, while it increased to 35% for those from lower income households. The figures also indicate that 13% are buying less fruit and vegetables.
About a quarter of UK shoppers said that they are trading down, and purchasing what they perceive to be food produced to lower food safety and animal welfare standards. This increased to 29% for people on lower incomes.
The survey established that 58% of consumers look at the country of origin before buying a product, and Ireland currently remains the most trusted source of imported food for UK consumers.
Almost half of the participants confirmed that they are changing what they buy to feed their families.