Consumer confidence in UK meat not affected by FMD - foot-and-mouth disease - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Eurofood, May 10, 2001

Public confidence in UK of British meat is largely unaffected by the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

According to the latest research from Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), eight out of ten people in the UK, or 83% to be precise, said that they are not any less likely to consider buying and eating British produced meat as a result of the FMD crisis.

DIFFERENCES OF OPINION

However, the research also shows that there are vast differences of opinion among different age groups involved in the research.

Of the age group 16-25 year-olds, 22% said they are less likely to consider buying and eating British meat because of FMD, compared to 15% of over 35 year-olds, and just 9% of 25-34 year-olds.

Director of Omnibus Services at TNS, Sue Homeyard said, "The foot-and-mouth crisis is clearly having an impact on the purchasing and eating decisions of a small minority of people in Britain- and particularly younger adults. However, it will be encouraging for the British meat industry [...] to learn that the vast majority of Britons have not changed their views on British meat."