Almost 40% of people in Northern Ireland say they are eating more healthily, according to a consumer attitudes to food survey.

The figure (38%) marks a sharp increase in the number of people claiming to eat healthier food compared to three years ago when 33% of those surveyed said they ate healthily.

The third annual survey, published on Monday, reveals that fresh meat and fish were more likely to be eaten in the province, compared to other countries.

Fruit, vegetables and dairy products continue to be eaten regularly.

Concerns remain on the sale of meat

Michael Walker, chairman of the Food Standards Agency's Northern Ireland advisory panel, said it was reassuring that people in the province were very aware of the need to eat healthily.

"In the past three years the Food Standards Agency has made some headway in the journey to earning public confidence and trust," said Mr Walker.

"This annual survey, by continuing to highlight changing opinion about the issues that matter most to consumers, is a valuable contribution to the continuing public debate on food safety and standards."

In contrast to the rest of the United Kingdom, there was an increase in the number of those surveyed in Northern Ireland with concerns on food safety issues, including poisoning and BSE.

There was a 6% rise in the number of people worried about hygiene standards in one or more catering outlets.

Concern remained the greatest about market stalls selling meat.

Northern Ireland remains the place you would be least likely to get food poisoning, according to the survey.

The consumers attitudes to food survey reflects the views of more than 3,000 people in the UK who took part.