US food safety confidence hits all-time low amid growing trust in imported goods

A new US report flags that consumers’ confidence in the safety of the national food supply has eroded to an all-time low. At the same time, consumers are less wary of imported foods than they were a decade ago. 

The 20th annual edition of the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Food & Health Survey included 3,000 US participants, 18–80 years.

Notably, only 55% of respondents say they are confident in the safety of the US food supply — falling sharply from 62% in 2024 and 70% in 2023.

Only 11% of respondents are “very confident.” This figure has steadily declined from a high of 24% in 2022, dropping to 17% in 2023 and 14% in 2024.

IFIC is releasing the data today in partnership with the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) at its annual meeting in Ohio, the US. IAFP is a professional organization committed to advancing food safety worldwide.

Lowest confidence levels in over a decade

This year marks the lowest level of confidence since IFIC started analyzing public sentiment on the topic 13 years ago. The council says the decline in confidence from 2024 spans nearly all demographic groups.

Foodborne illnesses, caused by bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, have become the leading food safety concern for US consumers this year.Respondents with low confidence in the safety of the US food supply are primarily concerned that that profit is prioritized over safety (59%), not all parts of the food system work together to ensure safety (54%), there’s insufficient government regulation (46%), and there are too many food recalls (43%).

In addition, foodborne illnesses, caused by bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, have become the leading food safety concern for US consumers this year, with half of all survey respondents ranking it among their top three concerns.

This represents a shift from 2024, when cancer-causing chemicals in food were consumers’ primary worry. Other significant concerns in 2024 include cancer-causing chemicals in food (47%), pesticides and pesticide residues (46%), and heavy metals in food (41%).

Furthermore, concern over food additives and ingredients is on the rise, cited by 36% of respondents, compared to 30% last year.

As the US FDA has moved to ban Red No. 3 color in food and beverages, the survey shows that nearly half of the participants believe the US allows some food colors that are banned in other countries. This is down since 2012, as four in 10 now believe both natural and artificial food colors must be labeled, and that food colors must be reviewed and approved by the US government before being added to food products (38%).

Improving perceptions of imported foods

The survey also signals a growing trust in imported food products. Only 32% of 2025 respondents believe imported foods are less safe than those produced in the US, down from 52% in 2014.

Opinions on these foods’ healthfulness are mixed: 21% say imported foods are less healthy than US foods, 19% say they are healthier, 30% believe they are about the same, and 31% are unsure.

“Even as overall confidence in the US food supply has dropped, Americans are growing less skeptical of foods from abroad. This may reflect growing conversations about how other countries approach food production and regulation,” says Tony Flood, IFIC senior director of Food & Ingredient Safety.

“Conversations online and in the media often highlight the perceived differences in food standards. That narrative seems to be resonating, but the reality is more complex.”

Need for transparency

The research underscores a growing need for transparency. Four in ten respondents say their confidence would rise if they better understood how the government and food companies ensure food safety.

A comparable number of consumers also indicated they would feel assured with stricter regulations regarding the safety of the food supply.

“Americans are clearly asking for more transparency and collaboration across the food system,” says Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, registered dietitian nutritionist, IFIC president and CEO. “We must meet this moment with credible information, and a renewed commitment to building trust through clear and consistent communication.”

IFIC is sharing its survey findings at IAFP’s Annual Meeting, a convening of top industry, academic, and governmental food safety professionals from six continents.

“This meeting is an opportunity to turn insight into action,” says IAFP executive director, Lisa Garcia. “We see the IFIC Food & Health Survey insights as a call to collaborate more closely than ever. Improving confidence in the food system will take all of us — industry, government, academia — working together with transparency, consistency, and purpose.”

“Food safety is foundational to public health, and trust is its cornerstone,” adds Reinhardt Kapsak. “We are grateful to IAFP and its members for advancing food safety worldwide and for providing a platform to advance this important dialogue.”