Finance Changing Food Buying

Almost half of Scots say they have made changes to their eating or food-buying habits in the last six months for financial reasons.

A survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) found that 46% of people had made changes, with 18% stating that the cost of food was the reason for not eating more healthily.

The FSA's Food and You survey questioned 475 people in Scotland on areas such as healthy eating and food safety as part of a wider UK poll.

It found that confusion around eating and health has increased, with 81% of people agreeing that experts contradict each other over which foods are good for you, compared to 71% in 2010.

Meanwhile, 41% of respondents reported that they had eaten their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables on the day before they were interviewed and 28% said they were eating more fruit and vegetables compared with six months ago.

On food safety, the survey found that 10% more women than men report always washing their hands before preparing food. The survey is aimed at providing information on behaviour, attitudes and knowledge relating to food safety and healthy eating issues, with further details due to be published in coming months.