Today, the European Consumer Organization BEUC presented its new study entitled 'UNWRAPPED – What consumers say about safe and sustainable food packaging'. The main finding is that overall consumers do not feel sufficiently informed when buying or using food packaging and containers.
For this survey, BEUC members surveyed consumers across eleven European countries during October 2022 to investigate attitudes towards food packaging and to explore consumer experiences, behaviors, and awareness of food-related risks.
These are further take-aways from the study:
- Many consumers said they found the information provided with food packaging is neither understandable (26 percent) nor sufficient (36 percent). 2 in 5 consumers find it unclear which food containers and packaging are safe to use.
- Two thirds of consumers said they at least sometimes experienced a lack of safe use instructions for food containers and kitchenware. Therefore, they might not use these products as intended, which in turn can increase their exposure to food-related risks.
- Around three quarters of respondents recognized the official Glass and Fork symbol, but only a minority of 29 percent knew it meant suitable for food contact – many rather associated the symbol with being dishwasher safe.
- Half of consumers used worn or damaged food containers and kitchenware for some time, even though age and wear can increase risks of chemicals leaching into food.
Monique Goyens, BEUC Director General, commented: "Our survey unpacks how consumers use everyday items such as take-away plastic containers, silicone bakeware, and non-stick frying pans. Although there is awareness among consumers that food packaging and kitchenware can contribute to food-related risks, consumers do not feel sufficiently informed about those risks. The fact that two-thirds of respondents report a lack of safe-use instructions limits their possibility to act on this awareness. Taken together, these findings show that EU food packaging policy falls well short of consumer expectations and needs. Consumer organizations call for EU rules so that food containers and packaging are safe, and people always receive easy instructions on how to use them."
Source: BEUC
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