The FSA’s mission is focused on protecting consumers and acting in the consumer’s interest. It is therefore essential to understand what influences and drives behaviours across the food system. To act in the consumer interest within food policy and the food system, we must understand and monitor behaviours, changing attitudes and consumer-driven trends, and play our part in supporting safe, healthy, sustainable diet choices for all.
To implement effective policies, we need to understand what consumers think, feel, and do, and how these are changing, as well the differences between consumers, and how these impact on food security, food safety and public health.
Understanding the role of new and emerging markets and business models, and through these, the role food businesses play in driving behaviour and influencing consumer demand, is essential. This includes the development and introduction of novel foods (such as alternative protein sources or genetically engineered foods).
Please contact the FSA Science Strategy, Research and Capability Unit at ari@food.gov.uk
This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:
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Funded by: ESRC
Lead research organisation: University of Leeds
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Funded by: SPF
Lead research organisation: Newcastle University
The project focuses on influencing food choices and consumption to align with sustainability and nutritional guidelines, partially addressing the question's emphasis on consumer behavior and perception.
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Funded by: MRC
Lead research organisation: University of Oxford
The project aims to redirect the food system towards healthy and sustainable outcomes for all groups, partially addressing the question's focus on consumer behavior and perception.