Most Agree Foods From Supermarkets Are Safe But Percentage Is Slipping

Results from an NPD survey tracking food safety concerns indicate a small decline in the confidence of supermarket food safety from 2004 to 2008. The percentage of consumers who feel that foods served at restaurants are safe has remained constant over that time. The top food safety concerns among consumers are Salmonella, E.Coli, trans fatty acids, mercury in fish/seafood, and “mad cow” disease.

The following questions and results were taken from the 2008 survey. (Historical data are included in the original document, see link below) Question: Overall, I feel that foods sold in supermarkets are safe.

• Agree (63%)
• Neither agree nor disagree (34%)
• Disagree (3%)

Question: Overall, I feel that foods sold in restaurants are safe to eat.

• Agree (48%)
• Neither agree nor disagree (48%)
• Disagree (5%)

Question: How concerned are you that the following pose a health hazard in the food that you might eat in the next month?

• Salmonella (80%)
• E. Coli (80%)
• Trans Fatty Acids (79%)
• Mercury in Fish/Seafood (68%)
• Mad Cow (65%)
• High Fructose Corn Syrup (58%)
• Artificial Growth Hormones in Milk (54%)
• Genetically Modified Foods (51%)
• Foot and Mouth (48%)
• Meat and Milk from Cloned Animals (42%)