What’s in Your Freezer? Frozen Food Consumption Frequency, Food Safety Risk Perceptions, and Appliance Use – Minnesota, 2023

Frozen food products have been implicated in outbreaks of foodborne disease, causing illness and affecting high-risk populations. Although national surveys collect data on preparation and consumption of frozen food products, data gaps exist regarding the specificity of frozen food products. The objective of this study was to characterize the frequency of consumption of frozen food products, appliance ownership and use, and perceptions of food safety among Minnesota adults. We conducted a survey at the 2023 Minnesota State Fair, receiving 1,719 complete surveys from Minnesota residents at least 18 years of age. Overall, 38.9% of respondents perceived frozen foods were safer than canned, fresh, or restaurant foods and 45.3% of respondents regarded food safety as the most important reason to follow packaging cooking instructions, with no significant differences by frozen food consumption frequency. Differences in frozen food consumption were seen by age: frozen convenience foods like frozen snacks and meals were more often consumed by younger respondents, whereas older adults consumed more meal components like frozen pre-cooked shrimp and vegetables. This study delivers a more comprehensive look at the consumption of specific types of frozen food and provides context that can be useful in foodborne disease outbreak investigations and risk assessments.