Four in 10 ‘uncomfortable’ sending food back – survey

Research from YouGov Omnibus found (39%) would feel uncomfortable doing this when eating out (including 10% who would feel very uncomfortable).

However, the majority (55%) said they would have no issue with complaining.

If there is a problem 38% said they send food back every or most times. A further 21% send it back some of the time while 34% only rarely or never complain.

Nine in ten send undercooked food back​

YouGov put 11 imperfect-food scenarios to people and asked whether they would send it back or not and in five the majority of those who don’t generally feel comfortable returning food would speak up.

They are most likely to send food back if they had received the wrong meal (92%, including 94% of those uncomfortable sending food back) or it was undercooked (90%, including an identical proportion uncomfortable sending food back).

The biggest differences between those who are comfortable/uncomfortable sending food back are over overcooked food and it being too hot or cold.

Two thirds (66%) who said they are comfortable sending food back would return overcooked food, compared to just 34% of those who find sending food back discomforting.

Three quarters (75%) of those who aren’t put out by returning food would send it back for being too hot or cold, compared to 45% of those who find it uncomfortable.

The survey did not ask what percentage would not go back to a place where they had a problem.