Americans\u2019 confidence that food sold at most grocery stores is safe to eat has fallen to its lowest level Gallup has recorded, with 65% now very or somewhat confident. That is down from 73% last year and 72% in 2024, and well below the 81% recorded in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The overall 16-percentage-point decline in confidence since 2019 reflects decreases in both the \u201cvery confident\u201d group, from 31% to 23%, and the \u201csomewhat confident\u201d group, from 50% to 42%. Meanwhile, the share who are \u201cnot too confident\u201d or \u201cnot at all confident\u201d has risen from 18% to 34%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s survey was conducted as a major U.S. cyclospora outbreak that began in June started to wane and officially ended on Sept. 11. Likewise, the 2024 reading<\/a> came amid numerous food recalls and serious illnesses linked to contaminated produce and other foods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although much of the news coverage of the recent food scare focused on produce at certain restaurants, Americans rate the safety of restaurant and grocery food similarly. In Gallup\u2019s first measure of restaurant food safety, about two-thirds are very (20%) or somewhat (46%) confident that food at most restaurants is safe to eat, while 33% are not too or not at all confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p> Americans\u2019 confidence that food sold at most grocery stores is safe to eat has fallen to its lowest level Gallup has recorded, with 65% now very or somewhat confident. https:\/\/t.co\/U7n7giSGA9<\/p>— Gallup (@Gallup) October 9, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n