23 replies to this topic

[a_andhika]

Dear Forum,

I would like to know your preference when eating somethin. What is the prior thing you want when buying food:

1. Safety and Hygiene
2. Nutrional value
3. Appearance
4. Smell and Taste
5. Price
6. Packaging
7. I dont have any preference

This topic suddenly pops up in my head, because it tickles me when some food expertise that I knew being so strict when it comes to their job. But when they eat, they suddenly "forget" their expertise.

Regards,


Arya

[Brendon]

Hello there Anya, I will make a comment if I may. When in a supermarket I take safety for granted but when I am eating out in a restaurant or god forbid a hot dog stand or kebab shop I do not. I suppose in a supermarket I go for appearance, nutritional value and price and it is possible that packaging has subconscious effect on me. If I have a kebab it’s usually when I’m a little tipsy and I go for smell, appearance and BIG!

[a_andhika]

Dear Brendon,

Welcome to the forum Thank you for the comment.

Its so funny because I live the same way like yours . When I buy fabricated foods, I tend to scrutinize the packaging, labels, expire date, etc... But when it comes to groceries.. hot dogs, burgers, kebabs, crepes, whatever you name it... Smells and crowds become my preference

Regards,

Arya

[Brendon]

Thanks for the welcome Arya. On appearance I also mean the look of the vendor and eatery. Is it/he clean and hygienic, to me that makes big difference, except like on a Friday night when I can make certain concessions. It is a good conversation, the decision making process for me usually is a subconcious one.

Regards,
Brendon

[GMO]

I am a right pain. I always go for safety but some traditional foods; e.g. cheeses and cured meats, I would buy them from unrefridgerated vendors partly because the risk is lower and also because I adore Serrano ham and good stinky cheese. I accept though these things come with a risk and I'd not do it if I ever get pregnant because of the Listeria risk.

[Simon]

I've got to say price is high on my agenda at the moment. Food price inflation here in the UK is rampant. Yes I would say price is my number 1 and with my cash I want the safest, tastiest, most nutritional food money can buy. I'm a very difficult shopper, so my wife tells me.

[AS NUR]

Dont forget.. for some people that they are poor .. they buy food just for eat.. and i Think we, that know about food safety, have to inform about food safety to SME'S ( small Medium enterprises)..

[Jean]

My first preferences are the food safety & quality followed by nutritional value and value for money. The first think what attracts me when I go to a restaurant or any take away shops are the cleanliness of the area & staff practices. Even though the foods are tempting by looks or aroma, I look around to see the standards of the outlet before dining. With regards to my groceries, it takes a hell lot of time as I tend to look at the information on the labels and last the cost before I decide to consider dropping it in my basket.

[Penard]

Hi,

what an interesting question! First I think we all think the same thing because of our jobs - quality safety first!
Second the way we react depend on our country : as Brendon wrote when we are sure (even though a life without any risk doesn't exist) about sold products in supermarkets because of the legislation, controls, the 'safety' past of the country it's ok. Then we can chose in accordance with our criterias - for me the taste then the price.

The third point concerns restaurants and fast food as well. Despite our official services I have the same opinion as Brendon, I always have a look on the presentation, kitchens, clean, housekeeping of the premises - and do not hesitate to leave a restaurant if I have some doubts. Just FYI, if you go in France you have to be much more careful in Paris (except from 'high quality restaurants') than in the rest of the country!

Regards,

Emmanuel

[cazyncymru]

Hello there Anya, I will make a comment if I may. When in a supermarket I take safety for granted but when I am eating out in a restaurant or god forbid a hot dog stand or kebab shop I do not. I suppose in a supermarket I go for appearance, nutritional value and price and it is possible that packaging has subconscious effect on me. If I have a kebab it’s usually when I’m a little tipsy and I go for smell, appearance and BIG!

Hi Brendon

I must admit my logic is a little bit convoluted.

If it's prepack at a Supermarket, then i don't worry about food safety, knowing full well the rigours that the supermarkets put their suppliers through.
However if it's "loose" such as the Deli counter, Fish Counter or Butchery, I NEVER EVER buy.
The number of times i have seen excess make up worn, jewellrey worn, hair not covered, dirty overalls, hands not being washed, handling packaging and then food being served is frightening.

I'd rather take my chance at the local kebab eatery. with loads of chilli sauce to kill off the potential pathogens!

[Brendon]

Dont forget.. for some people that they are poor .. they buy food just for eat.. and i Think we, that know about food safety, have to inform about food safety to SME'S ( small Medium enterprises)..

Yes AS NUR you are quite right. And also there are those even more unfortunate who struggle to eat at all. Good point.

[AS NUR]

Yes AS NUR you are quite right. And also there are those even more unfortunate who struggle to eat at all. Good point.

Yes.... And we have responsible to give them good food in term of quality and safety.. in my country, today some university try to give SME'S the information about Food safety.. And IThink we can follow DR Yunus from Bangladesh that give the poor people some hope to get better life and better food...

[Simon]

Just to add on a very personal note my Doctor has told me my bad cholesterol is too high, so my new priority is nutritional. I have no vices left. :-(

[vitez]

Five years ago, when I was an ordinary citizen, I guess that appearance, price and packing was the logical choice, with check of expiry date off course.
Now with five years of experience in food safety consulting, safety and hygiene are top, packaging but in means of safety, nutritional value, price... Smell and taste are after hygiene when we are talking about fresh or ready to eat food.

I must confess that in my consulting I often use this kind of question to explain importance of food safety.

[a_andhika]

Dear Forum,

Interesting comments. Please allow me to give you another question: WHich one do you prefer, healthy food or safety food? Does safety means healthy? Or vice versa?

Regards,

Arya

[SPR-makan-place]

Hello, I would like to surface to you some interesting findings
Regardless of social or financial background, the desire to eat a product does have a lot of influence on the five senses.
You may want to look up on the topix "Food for the five senses"
cheers

SPR-makan-place

[Charles.C]

Dear SPe,

Interesting although perhaps slightly OT.

In fact you can add 1 more, The latest issue of the journal Neuron carries news of a "sixth sense" that scientists say can detect calories in food without the involvement of our regular taste sensors. This apparently has possible significance regarding theories on other observed body characteristics, eg

http://www.scienceag...trunc_sys.shtml

Rgds / Charles.C

[Simon]

Five years ago, when I was an ordinary citizen,

Do you mean before you became one of us Vitez?

Interesting comments. Please allow me to give you another question: WHich one do you prefer, healthy food or safety food? Does safety means healthy? Or vice versa?

Hey Arya,

I don't think safe means healthy or vice versa and I prefer to have both.

Regards,
Simon

[a_andhika]

Do you mean before you became one of us Vitez? Hey Arya, I don't think safe means healthy or vice versa and I prefer to have both. Regards, Simon

Finally... My new post after a quite long time...

Dear Simon,

Slightly OT...
What do you think about this clause which quoted from ISO 22k:
3. Terms and definitions
3.1 Food Safety
NOTE 2. Food safety is related to the occurence of FOOD SAFETY HAZARDS, and does not include other human HEALTH aspects related to, for example: malnutrition.

Do you disagree with the preference of ISO 22K that "technically" tends to safety than healthy? :) Does BRC has better explanation? Id love to hear that.


Regards,


Arya

[chen]

We can easily agree on what is safety and sit down to formulate a guideline for the industry. ISO is smart to steer away from the 'healthy' aspects because it is subjective in a way and the first people who would start a fight would be the soya oil versus canola versus palm oil groups. That's another topic altogether and we aren't going that way.

Trying to take care of basic needs (safety) using ISO 22000 is already a big headache - looking at the unending news on breaches of food safety that come out from various parts of the world.

[Simon]

Do you disagree with the preference of ISO 22K that "technically" tends to safety than healthy? :) Does BRC has better explanation? Id love to hear that.

Welcome back Arya. I tend to agree with ISO22k and also with what Chen says below. And to be honest I don't have a copy of the BRC Food Standard, so I don't know what it says on the issue - help someone?

We can easily agree on what is safety and sit down to formulate a guideline for the industry. ISO is smart to steer away from the 'healthy' aspects because it is subjective in a way and the first people who would start a fight would be the soya oil versus canola versus palm oil groups. That's another topic altogether and we aren't going that way.

Trying to take care of basic needs (safety) using ISO 22000 is already a big headache - looking at the unending news on breaches of food safety that come out from various parts of the world.

[sirilucky]

Iam eco friendly and health consious and always have organic food and suggest you also to try organic foods.

[Saviour]

Hi!! All

As far as food concern I m too much Brand Conscious. Since I am allergic to nuts I do see always labeling for allergen alerts & other info, price is also one of the factors. I always opt for moderate cost not too high nor too low,.
In restaurants I always look for cleanliness & hygienic practices, in doubtful case we better go for other options or else fruits are the best when m travelling & in unfamiliar places.
I never go for open stalls etc, as whenever I listened my tongue my next visit was Doctor's place.

Regards
Monika

[a_andhika]

Dear sirilucky,

Perhaps you've know it, but we also discussed about organic food in here:

http://www.ifsqn.com...showtopic=12137

Question is, does the organic food lover is a vegetarian? I never heard "organic meat" before... Maybe a cow which only eat organic feed? Sounds silly... @.@


Dear Monika,

I am also a brand-minded one if it means shopping to supermarket. But not like you, I guess I am a victim of commercialism on TV... Ah, capitalism... Agree with your preference with price. But if it comes about the restaurant... Hmm... tough one. Coz in here there are so many restaurants that looks so "unhygienic" and far away from every aspect of GMP, but they sell fabulous and gorgeus foods, indeed!! So I prefer to take away the food instead eating it on the restaurant, and praying that I wont be contaminated with some Salmonella or Listeria


Regards,


Arya