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Last month we published the results from our most recent Consumer Attitudes to Food Survey. This survey, which has been conducted annually since 2000, allows us to measure and track over time the attitudes, knowledge and views of consumers towards both general food issues and the FSA itself. As Chief Scientist, one of my roles is to challenge and strengthen the way the Agency uses science to develop policies and advice.  The integrity of these processes is fundamental to earning trust; and I'm therefore pleased to see that the survey shows a further increase in the level of trust in the Agency.

One of our core values is ‘putting the consumer first’, and in order for us to do this we need to understand the often wide-ranging views held by the public. Surveys such as the Consumer Attitudes Survey help us to develop effective policies and communications strategies, and evaluate current initiatives.

This survey is part of our wider consumer engagement programme, which aims to gather the views of consumers, through a range of activities – we commission various consumer research methodologies such as focus groups and surveys that help us answer specific questions; we work in partnership with community food initiatives, many of which are working with some of the most socially deprived communities in the UK; through our Action Research Studies we’re building greater intelligence on specific groups of consumers whose voices are seldom heard in the policy-making process; and we also manage a School Council Network that reaches out to 100+ children and young people in England alone.

We are always looking for new ways of engaging consumers in our work, and are always happy to hear your views on how we can best achieve this.