Consumers attitudes towards food safety in Lithuania

Abstract

Attitude toward food safety has been settled a short time ago however it is essential in the developed society. Food, food production and distribution to consumers are strictly controlled recently as consumers get only safe, high quality and useful for health food and food products. Research revealed that 91.5 % of consumers always or most of the time buy food products in supermarkets. Even 69.3 % of consumers always are interested in expiry date of food. Mostly respondents (75.6 %) referred that freshness of food product is the most relevant indicator when choosing foodstuff. Only 1 % of consumers do not pay attention to this indicator. Research showed that 89.3 % of consumers purchased unsafe foodstuff one or few times. Third (28 %) of questioned consumers revealed that just returned unsafe food product to the seller. However only 8.4 % of consumers seek the help, appeal to the State Food and Veterinary Service (SFVS), State Consumer Right Protection Authority (SCRPA) or directly inform unsafe foodstuff producer.