The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published the end of year report from its monthly Consumer Insights Tracker (CIT), summarising key findings between April 2025 and March 2026 and longer-term trends.
When respondents were asked whether they had concerns about a range of food related topics, food prices have consistently been the most common concern, the FSA said.
In March 2026, 91% said they were concerned about prices, with levels ranging from 86% to 92% since tracking began in July 2023. While there is high concern about food prices, a lower percentage said they were worried about themselves or their household being able to afford food in the next month (23% in March 2026).
Many respondents also said they’d engaged in certain food-related behaviours to save money - some of which may increase food safety risks.
Each month respondents are given a list and asked which, if any, behaviours they did in the last month. The most common in March 2026 were eating food past its use by date (64%), eating leftovers that had been kept in the fridge for more than two days (60%) and - worryingly - cutting down on the amount of food bought (52%).
Other common concerns from the CIT this March included ultra-processed food (77%), food waste in the food chain (77%), animal welfare in the food industry (76%) and the quality of food (76%).
“Food prices remain a top concern this year for most people we surveyed.”
Katie Pettifer (left), CEO at the FSA, said: “This latest data shows that food prices remain a top concern this year for most people we surveyed. Many people said to save money they’d done risky things, like eating food past its use by date.
”So, this summer we’re once again running a campaign to help with advice on how to keep yourself and your family safe when cooking and preparing food at home.”
On 7 June his year, the FSA launched a consumer-focused campaign called ‘Stop. Think. Serve,’ focusing on the everyday kitchen habits that can put people at risk, particularly those who are more vulnerable to foodborne illness.
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