The FSA's mission is "food you can trust". A key part of that mission is understanding how people think about food and food safety and using that insight to provide practical advice that helps consumers make informed choices.
Our latest Consumer Insights Tracker, covering April 2025 to March 2026, provides valuable evidence about consumer attitudes and behaviours around food. The findings show that while confidence in food remains high, some food safety practices continue to pose risks. For example, when prompted, some respondents reported eating food past its use-by date, keeping leftovers for longer than recommended, or reheating leftovers multiple times.
These findings are particularly important as we move through the summer months. Warmer weather, outdoor eating and barbecues can create additional opportunities for harmful bacteria to spread if food is not handled, cooked or stored safely. Foodborne illnesses such as Salmonella and Campylobacter remain a significant cause of illness each year, and simple food hygiene measures can help reduce the risk.
That is why we recently launched our 'Stop. Think. Serve' campaign, which encourages consumers to take a moment to consider food safety when preparing, cooking and serving food. The campaign focuses on practical steps people can take at home, whether they are cooking for family, hosting friends, packing a picnic or firing up the barbecue. Simple actions can make a real difference: cooking food thoroughly, avoiding cross-contamination, following use-by dates and keeping food chilled where needed. These habits help ensure that food can be enjoyed safely throughout the summer.
Our message is straightforward: stop for a moment when preparing food, think about whether food is safe, and then serve with confidence. You can find advice and information on food hygiene at home on the FSA's pages on GOV.UK.
The Consumer Insights Tracker helps us understand where extra guidance will be useful for people, while campaigns such as 'Stop. Think. Serve’ enable us to turn that evidence into practical, accessible advice. By continuing to listen to consumers and respond to emerging risks, we can help people enjoy food safely and with confidence. | 
