Respondents were asked to select from a list of options to ascertain whether they had concerns about a range of food related topics. In March 2026, 91% said they were concerned about food prices, with levels ranging from 86% to 92% since tracking began in July 2023.
FSA found that 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). This has fluctuated within a narrow range since July 2023 (19%-28%).
Respondents also said they had engaged in certain food-related behaviours to save money, with FSA highlighting that some of these behaviours may increase food safety risks. When asked from a list which behaviours they had done in March 2026, the responses were:
- Eating food past its use by date (64%)
- Eating leftovers that had been kept in the fridge for more than two days (60%)
- Cutting down on the amount of food bought (52%)
- Reheating leftovers more than once to avoid throwing them away (39%)
- Turning off an oven or hob earlier to finish cooking in residual heat (33%)
Other common concerns from the Consumer Insights Tracker in March 2026, when prompted, 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%).
Katie Pettifer, chief executive officer at the FSA, commented: “This latest data shows that food prices remain a top concern this year for most people we surveyed. Many people said that 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.”
Catherine David, CEO at WRAP, stated: “We know that 60% of all wasted food comes from our homes – costing the average household of four around £1,000 a year. Forming good food habits is vital for making the most of the food you buy, especially in the summer when life can be busier and food in your kitchen gets forgotten.
“We work with the Food Standards Agency and our Love Food Hate Waste Campaign provides guidance on storing and using up your food in a safe way – ultimately helping you to make your food go further for your family.”
