This paper provides information on the consumers' competence in handling food in private households-limited to location of storage and duration of storage of fresh food resp. of food in packages already opened. Data were obtained by face to face interviews of a sample of 2000 people older than 14 years in Germany, 2000. Results on use and storage of 24 food items are available, data concerning long-life milk (UHT) are discussed in detail. On the basis of such information it is possible to develop recommendations for consumers to improve their handling of food. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.