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<p>A qualitative approach was taken to investigate domestic kitchen practices in 20 UK households. Households were recruited as case studies to investigate the kitchen practices of people aged under 60 years (including some women who were pregnant) and people aged 60 years and older. Age and pregnancy-status were the main selection criteria because of the Agency’s interest in groups thought to be particularly vulnerable to foodborne illness.</p>
A range of qualitative methods was used to generate insights about what goes on and why in UK kitchens. This included a participant-led kitchen tour, observation, video observation and informal interviews, to:
<ul><li>examine practices in the domestic kitchen to assess whether and how such practices have the potential to influence food safety in the home</li>
<li>generate insights into domestic kitchen practices, to help the Agency to support UK households to engage more consistently in effective domestic food safety practice</li></ul>
The objectives of this study were to examine:
<ul><li>What constitutes everyday ‘kitchen life’ in contemporary UK households?</li>
<li>What relationships exist, and why, between what people do and say and the kitchen space/place?</li>
<li>What potential pathways( possible links) exist between practices and food safety within domestic kitchens?</li>
<li>How can we identify and define the most ‘at risk’ households in terms of their kitchen practices?</li>
<li>How, if at all, do households with older and younger people and pregnant women differ?</li></ul>
<p>Fieldwork was carried out between June and December 2012. A pilot study was conducted in February and March 2012.</p>
<p>Background: A renewed Foodborne Disease Strategy for 2010–2015 was developed with the aim of reducing foodborne disease further. A key focus of the strategy includes food safety in the home.</p>
<p>The Agency has commissioned a package of work to explore domestic food hygiene practices. An evidence review has already been completed to explore what is currently known about domestic food safety behaviours, and quantitative research to get baseline data on claimed food safety behaviours in the home.</p>
<p>This project generated insights into actual food safety practices in the domestic kitchen, shedding light on what people, including vulnerable groups, do in their homes and the reasons why.</p>
<p>Results from this work, combined with other Agency activities, will increase our understanding of how to improve consumers' knowledge and awareness of food hygiene and foodborne illness in a domestic setting. It will also inform other areas of the Agency's work. </p>