Horse meat scare spurs consumers into changing buying habits

More than half of consumers have changed their shopping habits as a result of the horse meat scandal, a survey for consumer group Which? has found.

Public trust in the food industry has dropped by 24 per cent, with 30 per cent of those polled now buying less processed meat and a quarter (24 per cent) buying fewer ready meals with meat in or choosing vegetarian options.

The survey, conducted late last month, also revealed that two-thirds of people (68 per cent) do not think the Government has been giving enough attention to enforcing labelling laws, with half of consumers (50 per cent) not confident that ingredient information is accurate.

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It found that 44 per cent now spend more time looking at the ingredients label on meat products, with 83 per cent agreeing that country of origin labelling should be required on such items.

Confidence in food safety has also dropped, from nine in 10 (92 per cent) feeling confident when buying products in the supermarket before the scandal broke to seven in 10 (72 per cent) feeling confident now.

Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “The horse meat scandal exposed the need for urgent changes to the way food fraud is detected and standards are enforced. These serious failings must be put right if consumers are to feel fully confident in the food they are buying once more.

“Ministers must ensure that everyone involved, including their own departments, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the food industry and local authorities, are crystal clear about their responsibility to protect consumers and are properly equipped to do so.”

Which? has called on the Government to improve food surveillance among other measures.