Policy & Research
Food
The way we shop for food and the range of food products available to us has changed dramatically over the last few decades. The dominance of supermarket chains has caused a cultural shift in our food purchasing behaviour to the extent that supermarkets now account for around 90% of our grocery purchases. Consumers are also eating out more frequently and many are becoming more aware of the ethics of food production with increasing sales of organic and fair trade products.
Consumer Focus Wales exists to allow the consumer voice to be heard. Our current work programme focuses on ensuring consumer protection and choice is maintained in particular aspects of the food arena.
- Food safety
- Genetically modified food
Latest News
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Wales leads the way – but watchdog disappointed by review delay
28 March 2012
‘There have been great strides in food safety, with the Welsh Government promising to make it law for the mandatory display of food hygiene ratings on food business premises. But we are disappointed that a year on from our last report, the Food Standards Agency food law enforcement review, commissioned by the Welsh Government, has yet to be published. It is 12 months overdue – this simply isn’t good enough for consumers in Wales.
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Response to Welsh Government’s Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Bill consultation.
14 December 2011
Maria Battle, Senior Director at Consumer Focus Wales, said: ‘Consumer Focus Wales has long argued that Wales can and should lead the way in the UK when it comes to food safety and now the opportunity has arrived. The consultation presents a great opportunity for the people of Wales to voice any concerns they have [...]
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Welsh consumers want easy access to food hygiene reports
17 November 2011
More than 90 per cent of people in Wales think consumers should have easy access to inspection reports which show why food businesses have received a rating. Consumer Focus Wales research shows the majority (85 per cent) of those surveyed also think they should be able to do this via the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme [...]
more news: food, food safety, e coli
Latest Publications
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Protecting Consumers from E.coli O157: A statement on progress 2012
28 March 2012
For the past two years, Consumer Focus Wales has published a report scrutinising the implementation of the recommendations of the Pennington Inquiry into the E.coli outbreak in 2005 in which 44 schools were affected and a total of 157 people, mostly children, were diagnosed with E.coli O157. This statement is an update a year on about what has been done since our last report and where focus is still needed.
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A response to the Welsh Government consultation on proposals for a Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Bill- March 2012
21 March 2012
Consumer Focus Wales welcomes the opportunity to respond to this consultation on the introduction of a statutory food hygiene ratings scheme. There is also strong consumer support for this proposal - 94 per cent of people in Wales think it should be compulsory for food businesses to display their food hygiene rating score.
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Protecting consumers from E.coli 0157 – second progress report
22 March 2011
Between 2006 and 2009 Professor Pennington chaired a Public Inquiry and developed 24 recommendations aimed at preventing further outbreaks. Consumer Focus Wales has independently taken on the task of monitoring implementation of these recommendations. Our second annual report has found that progress is now, in most cases, well advanced.
more publications: food, food safety, e coli
