Small and micro food businesses continue to demonstrate strong food safety practices, although falling awareness and confidence highlight the need for sustained regulatory engagement.

Small and micro food businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland continue to demonstrate strong commitment to food safety despite ongoing economic pressures, according to new research from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The fifth wave of the agency's tracking survey found that 88% of businesses felt well informed about the regulations affecting them, while 96% considered food safety regulations effective at protecting the public. Among businesses selling food as a meal, takeaway or packaged at the point of sale, 98% said they provide allergen information to customers. The research covered 700 small and micro food business operators, with fieldwork conducted between September and November 2025.

The findings indicate that food safety remains embedded within day-to-day operations despite continued pressure on smaller businesses. Almost nine in ten businesses, or 88%, considered food safety regulations reasonable and practical, while 91% of businesses familiar with the FSA said they trusted the agency to maintain and improve food safety standards. The results also show continued engagement with allergen controls, with two-thirds of relevant businesses reporting that they had used FSA tools for non-prepacked food, including allergen posters. These measures are particularly significant for smaller operators, where effective staff training, allergen communication and regulatory understanding are essential to maintaining safe food practices.

However, the research also identifies areas requiring continued attention from regulators and food businesses. Trust in the FSA's ability to maintain and improve standards fell from 94% in the previous survey to 91%, while the proportion of businesses saying they knew "a lot" about the agency declined from 32% to 24%. Trust in how the FSA uses information supplied by businesses also decreased from 94% to 87%. The FSA said the findings would inform its future engagement and communications with small and micro food businesses. The FSA's Wave 5 research forms part of a tracking programme that has monitored smaller food businesses' experiences, perceptions of regulation and confidence in the food system since 2018.

Economic pressures remain an additional consideration for operators responsible for maintaining food safety standards. Two-thirds of businesses surveyed identified changes in customer behaviour linked to the cost-of-living situation as a concern, while inflation, energy costs and recruitment continued to affect the sector. For health and safety professionals, the findings reinforce the importance of maintaining food safety controls, allergen management and staff competence even when businesses face pressure on costs and resources.

For the sector, the lesson is clear: strong food safety performance depends not only on effective regulation but also on continued communication, training and engagement between regulators and businesses. The latest findings show that smaller food operators remain committed to protecting consumers, while the decline in some awareness and trust measures demonstrates why regulatory guidance must remain accessible, practical and responsive to the pressures facing businesses.

Source: Gov.uk / Food Standards Agency (FSA) / FSA Research and Evidence / IFF Research