The agency said a survey of adults had revealed that over half of people who purchased frozen burgers in the past were now buying fewer of these products, while 42% said they bought fewer processed foods containing meat, such as lasagnes and shepherds pie.
The majority of people (72%) said they still had confidence in Irish food safety controls and regulations, but the FSAI said that the scandal had resulted in a “marked increase in awareness around food safety”. Nearly half (45%) of people said they spent more time reading labels, while 53% said they were more conscious of ingredients going into manufactured meat products and 56% stated they were more conscious about the country-of-origin of their food.
Industry responsibility
FSAI chief executive Professor Alan Reilly said that the discovery of a “pan-European” contamination scandal had “changed the way people in Ireland view the foods they purchase and consumer”.
He added that by relying on labels as their only source of information about the source of raw materials in processed foods, people were “putting their trust” into the hands of manufacturers and retailers.
“A key lesson for food businesses is that they must have robust supplier controls in place at all times to ensure they know who is supplying them and that all products and all ingredients are authentic,” he said. “Purchasing raw materials on face value is a high-risk strategy for food processors.”
Reilly said that progress had already been made on strengthening the food chain, with DNA testing now part of the food safety “armoury”. He added that the FSAI would continue to test and monitor Irish food to ensure it met legal and food safety requirements.
“Given the added controls now in place, I believe that the eventual outcome of this food fraud scandal will be a positive one for consumers,” he said.
The survey of over 1,000 adults in Ireland was commissioned by the FSAI and carried out by Behaviour and Attitudes.