Czech survey released to mark EFSA safe food campaign

The majority of people in the Czech Republic trust food sold in the country to be safe but at least a fifth struggle with basic food handling rules.

Findings come from an online survey of food safety on the Czech market with more than 1,500 people in March 2025.

It was part of the #Safe2EatEU campaign organized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and rolled out in the Czech Republic by the food safety department of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Czech consumer gaps
Knowledge of the rules around compliance with conditions for safe transportation, storage and preparation of food is often low.

This is especially true for young parents and people less than 45 years old in general, who also most often admit to having a bad experience with food, such as nausea or intestinal problems.

The survey conducted among the general public for the Ministry of Agriculture showed that 21 percent of Czechs do not know the exact meaning of the terms “use by” and “best before.”

A total of 22 percent of respondents are unsure whether they can eat yogurt after the date stated and 23 percent are unclear which foods should and should not be stored in the refrigerator.

More than a quarter of the 1,513 survey participants were uncertain about washing meat before cooking and 32 percent said they use the same utensils when handling raw meat as for other foods. Unnecessary washing of meat and failure to separate kitchen utensils when using them can contribute to infections such as salmonellosis or campylobacteriosis.

“Although awareness of the rules for safe food handling is generally high, more than a fifth of people are still confused about the issue or do not attach sufficient importance to it. Improper food handling poses a health risk,” said Jindřich Fialka, from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Ireland’s involvement
The Safe2Eat Campaign has been extended to 23 countries, up from 18 in 2024. The campaign — formerly known as #EUChooseSafeFood — is now in its fifth year.

“As European consumers navigate a complex food landscape, it is essential that they feel empowered to make informed choices. The Safe2Eat campaign bridges the gap between food safety science and everyday decisions, providing clear and practical information that supports consumer confidence,” said Bernhard Url, EFSA’s acting executive director.

Safefood, an agency that promotes food safety and nutrition on the island of Ireland, is representing the country as part of the European initiative.

An Ipsos survey commissioned by EFSA revealed that 40 percent of those who interacted with Safe2Eat now actively consider food safety when purchasing food, compared to 35 percent of the general population.

There was also a decline in the view that food safety information is overly technical or complex, with respondents saying they know more about preventing food risks. In total, 38 percent of the surveyed population selected this statement in the pre-campaign survey versus 36 percent in the post-campaign survey. 

The survey covered Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Estonia. Research was conducted in two phases to measure the campaign’s impact. In April 2024, 500 interviews were undertaken per country. In October, 1,000 interviews were done in each country.

“Safe food practices are the foundation of wellbeing, and this campaign ensures Irish consumers have even more knowledge about how to store, prepare, and purchase food safely,” Gary A Kearney, chief executive of Safefood, said. 

Consumers can visit the official campaign website, explore educational materials, and engage with campaign content on social media using #Safe2EatEU.

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