Dive Brief:
- Americans' confidence in food safety fell to a record low this year, according to Gallup, after a Cyclospora outbreak and a series of food recalls shook consumer trust.
- Gallup found 65% of consumers were very or somewhat confident that food sold at most grocery stores is safe to eat. That is down from 73% last year and significantly below the 81% reported in 2019.
- Consumer trust in the federal government's ability to address safety is also at a record low. For the first time, the majority of Americans said they have not much or no confidence at all in the government to ensure food safety.
Dive Insight:
A Cyclospora outbreak over the summer escalated into a full blown crisis of confidence in the U.S. food safety system for many consumers. The outbreak, which was tied to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce, sickened more than 12,000 people and led to a steep drop in produce sales.
Confidence in grocery store food has dropped below 70% for the first time, Gallup found, which prompted more consumers to avoid certain brands or throw out food. Gallup reported that 73% of U.S. adults say they avoided purchasing certain brands or types of food in response to a food safety recall, up from 53% in 2024.
Shaken consumer confidence had an impact on produce sales. Ten percent of households indicated that they reduced spending on salads and fresh greens during the outbreak, according to a Numerator analysis, and more than a quarter said they have stopped buying those foods altogether.
Experts warned that cuts to government food safety programs could lead to a breakdown in surveillance and action. A report from consumer watchdog Public Interest Research Group found that many of the most serious outbreaks in 2025 involved time lags between illnesses and recalls. Other recalls were either not publicly announced or closed with few details.
"Many aspects of our food safety and recall notification system don’t instill confidence," the group said in a February report.
Consumer views of the federal government have become more partisan especially since the start of President Donald Trump's second term, according to Gallup. Democrats' confidence in the government's ability to ensure food safety fell from 74% in 2024 to 30% in 2026. Republicans' confidence, meanwhile, has risen steadily, from 50% in 2024 to 70% in 2026.
