- Table 1 Prevalence of foodborne pathogens among adults aged ≥65 years in Scotland and from global studies
- Table 2 Determinants of food safety risks, behaviours and vulnerabilities
- Table 3 Physical environment determinants upon food shopping, storage, cooking and eating practices among adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 4 Biological determinants upon food shopping, storage, cooking and eating practices among adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 5 Social determinants upon food shopping, storage, cooking and eating practices among adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 6 Psychological determinants upon food shopping, storage, cooking and eating practices among adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 7 Impact of economic determinants upon food shopping, purchase decisions, food storage and eating practices among adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 8 Impact of economic determinants upon food shopping, storage, cooking and eating practices among adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 9 Perceived susceptibility to foodborne illness among family-caregivers and adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 10 Perceived severity of foodborne illness among family-caregivers and adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 11 Perceived benefits of food safety practices among family caregivers and adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 12 Perceived barriers to food safety practices among family caregivers and adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 13 Perceived self-efficacy of implementing food safety practices among family-caregivers and adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 14 Motivations of individuals aged ≥ 65 years in Scotland to implement recommended food safety practices
- Table 15 Cues to action that have resulted in adopting food safety behaviours among family-caregivers and adults over 65 in Scotland
- Table 16 Impact of being responsible for food provision of relatives upon family caregivers
- Table 17 Considerations for future Food Standards Scotland food safety messaging.
14. Conclusions
This project has successfully addressed the aims of the fellowship to identify lifestyle factors which cause members of the older population to become ill with foodborne illness and to provide recommendations for Food Standards Scotland to enhance their consumer advice and communications strategies to provide targeted food safety information for clinically vulnerable groups such as older adults.
The findings from this study highlight the complex interplay of health, social and financial factors that shape food-related behaviours among older adults. These insights can be used to inform the development of future Food Standards Scotland food safety messaging aimed at addressing threat perceptions, motivation, and behavioural evaluation. Understanding how environmental factors, such as access to healthy food and safe storage, alongside individual factors like age, cognitive decline, and social isolation, impact food safety practices, enables the creation of more targeted and effective communication strategies.
The project has confirmed the need to inform older adults of which groups are susceptible to foodborne illness, why they are susceptible and how to reduce the risk of foodborne illness through promoting food safety practices.
Future food safety messages should focus on raising awareness of potential risks, particularly around improper food storage, handling, and reheating, by directly addressing perceived threats and highlighting the consequences of unsafe practices. To enhance motivation, messaging should consider the emotional and social influences on food behaviours, such as the role of caregivers, social interactions, and financial constraints. Additionally, by evaluating current food handling behaviours and offering practical, actionable advice, future campaigns can better guide individuals towards safer food practices. By incorporating these findings, food safety messaging can be tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of older adults, ultimately encouraging safer behaviours and reducing foodborne illness.