Largest Ever Household Food Study in Ireland Seeks Participants Across the Island

18 Jun 2026

Researchers from University College Cork, University College Dublin, Ulster University, and Queen’s University Belfast have launched the Household Food and Health Study, the largest household-level study of its kind ever carried out on the island of Ireland, and are inviting households to take part. 

The study will involve approximately 1,500 households, totalling around 5,000 participants, across both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 

The initiative is being conducted as part of the Co-Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, a collaborative research partnership across Ireland and the UK. 

The study seeks to capture household eating patterns and food habits. Households face many challenges in relation to food; from rising food costs to busy work and family schedules. Most families work hard to provide healthy diets for their children, but this can be challenging with time constraints, preferences and mixed messaging.

By studying households across the island, researchers will compare how different policies in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, such as healthy eating guidance and school meal provision, affect dietary habits.

The study will examine dietary habits, household food waste and health outcomes, such as blood pressure and body weight. Updated information for individuals across the population, collected at a household level, will provide insights that can guide policymakers, public health authorities, retailers, farmers, food producers, and organisations providing meals outside the home. Insights from the study can help them to better support households in accessing healthier, more sustainable diets. 

Participation and Data Collection 

Participants will complete online questionnaires about their household food habits over two to three weeks. Optional components, including a finger-prick blood test or cheek swab, are entirely voluntary. Households can take part in the sections they feel comfortable with. 

All data is confidential and anonymised, and participants may withdraw from the study at any time and take their information with them. The research team is committed to supporting participants throughout the study. 

Long-Term Engagement and Benefits

Participants will receive personalised reports on their household’s nutrition and be invited to webinars sharing insights from the study. Households can also take part in follow-up studies over the coming years, becoming part of a research community helping to understand diets and household food habits across the island. 

Associate Professor Aifric O’Sullivan, UCD said: "This study is unique because it focuses on households rather than individuals. By examining how household environments influence food choices and eating habits, we can better understand the opportunities and challenges of adopting healthier and more sustainable diets." 

Professor Mairead Kiely, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, UCC said: “Households are at the centre of the food system. This study allows us to see how policy, environment, and daily life interact to shape diets across the island.” 

Professor Mary Ward, Ulster University said: “Participation is voluntary, but every household that takes part contributes to research that could improve access to healthy food and guide policy that works for families everywhere on the island.” 

Dr Claire McEvoy, Queen’s University Belfast said: “Comparing households across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland provides a unique opportunity to understand how different food environments shape diet, nutrition and health. These real-world insights are essential for informing future public health strategies across the island.” 

International Context

Research on dietary habits and food consumption has informed important food policy decisions internationally. Examples include Denmark’s whole grain labelling initiative, the UK Soft Drinks Industry Levy, the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations used across several Scandinavian countries, and the introduction of folic acid fortification of wheat flour in the UK. These examples show how research evidence can support practical measures that improve public health. 

Join the Study

Households wishing to take part or learn more can find information at householdfoodstudy.org. Participation is voluntary and open to households across the island of Ireland, with individuals aged 16 or older and other household members aged 4 and above eligible to participate.