Food Recalls, Food Safety, and Microwave Safety Focus Group Study

Appendix 1

Food Recalls, Food Safety, and Microwave Safety Focus Group Study

Respondent Screener

Recruiting Goals

• Two groups in each location: Washington DC, Boston, MA Miami, FL, Dallas, TX.

• The groups will be segmented by level of education, and by having children under 18 in the household.

• Two of the groups will be only with English speaking Hispanics (one in Miami, one in TX)

• The other groups will have a mix of races and ethnicities and can include Hispanics.

• All groups will be mixed gender with no more than 4 men in each group.

• Four of the groups will have people with children under 18 and four of the groups with have participants without children.

• Ages 18 and over, with a range of ages in each group.

• All participants must be able to read, understand and speak English.

• All participants must have grocery shopped within the past month, and have used a microwave to cook frozen food.

• Participants cannot have participated in a focus group or a similar study in the past 4 months. Participation in phone surveys is allowable.

• 12 recruits per group in order to get 8-12 to participate.

• Participants will receive $75 incentives.

• Each focus group will last approximately 120 minutes.

• Groups will be audio- and video-taped. Obtain participant’s consent.

• The identity of the participants will remain confidential.

• Groups will be observed by staff from the Food and Drug Administration.

• Participants do not have to answer any questions that they do not want to, but are encouraged to participate.

Draft script

Hello Mr./Ms. __________________________________, my name is __________________ and I'm calling about a market research study in your area. We are recruiting for an upcoming focus group in which participants will be asked to share their thoughts and feelings about food safety.

Would you mind answering a few questions?

Screening Questions

Q1. Before I start, are you at least 18 years old?

1. YES

2. NO  Can I speak with someone at least 18 years old? If no, when would be a good time to call back and speak with someone at least 18 years old? Or, is there no one over 18 in the household? SET UP CALL BACK TIME or TERMINATE IF NO ONE OVER 18.

Q2. Do you or someone from your immediate family work for any of the following:

• Market Research Firm  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

• The Food and Drug Administration,

U.S. Department of Agriculture,

or State or local food agency  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

• Food Industry or Food Retailer  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

Q3. Have you participated in a focus group within the past 4 months?

[Interviewer: participation in telephone surveys is allowable]

• Yes  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

• No  continue

Q4. Do you do grocery shopping for yourself or for your household?

• Yes  continue

• No  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

Q5. When was the last time you went grocery shopping?

• Less than one week ago  continue

• Less than one month ago (but more than week ago)  continue

• More than one month ago  eliminate

Q6. Have you used a microwave to prepare a frozen meal in the past month?

• Yes  continue

• No  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

Q7. Do you have any children under 18 living at home?

• Yes  children group

• No  no children group

Demographic Questions

Q8. Determine gender

• Male

• Female

Q9. I am going to read some age categories --- could you please tell me in which category your age falls?

• Under 18 years old  eliminate [thank respondent politely]

• 18-45  continue

• 46 and over  continue

Q9a. What is your age exactly?

• [Specify] _______

Q10. What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than high school  lower education group

• High school graduate or GED  lower education group

• Technical/vocational school  lower education group

• Community college  lower education group

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Some college (1-3 years

towards Bachelor’s degree)  higher education group

• College (Bachelor’s degree)  higher education group

• Advanced degree (post graduate degree)  higher education group

Q11. Are you of Hispanic or Latino origin?

􀂉 Yes → Hispanic groups (and other groups)

􀂉 No → continue

Q12. What is your race? I am going to read several categories of race. You may choose as many as they apply. Are you?

􀂉 White → continue

􀂉 Black or African American → continue

􀂉 Asian → continue

􀂉 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander → continue

􀂉 American Indian or Alaskan Native →continue

􀂉 [DON’T READ] Hispanic → continue

􀂉 [DON’T READ] Other → continue

We would like to invite you to participate in a focus group to discuss issues relating to food safety with about 10 other participants. The discussion will last approximately two hours and will be video- and audio-taped and observed by staff from the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA. Your participation and everything you say during the discussion will remain confidential. You will receive a $75 incentive. Additionally, we will serve you sandwiches before the group discussion starts. Are you interested in participating in this focus group?

 

• Yes -> continue

• No -> [Thank the person for his/her time]

I’m glad that you will be able to join us! The focus group will take place on (Day), (Date), at [6:00 or 8:00 p.m.] at [site location].

Will you be available to participate at this time?

• Yes

• No -> [Thank the person for his/her time]

I would like to send you a confirmation letter and directions to the facility. In order to do so, could you please tell me your mailing address (or fax number, e-mail address) and a phone number where you can be reached:

Name:______________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________________

City:_______________________ State:_________ Zip:______________

Phone:_______________________

Email:_______________________

Date of focus group:__________________ Time:________________

We are only inviting a few people, so it is very important that you notify us as soon as possible if for some reason you are unable to attend. Please call [recruiter] at [telephone number] if this should happen. We look forward to seeing you on [date] at [time]. If you use reading glasses, please bring them with you to the focus group.

4

Focus Groups Screener