Americans’ Confidence in Food Safety Hits Record Low Amid Outbreaks

Recent polling reveals that Americans’ confidence in the federal government’s ability to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply has plummeted to an all-time low. This drop in confidence coincides with a series of significant foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls experienced this year.

Poll Results

The latest Gallup findings, published on October 8, show that only 47 percent of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the government’s capacity to secure food safety. This marks a decrease from 53 percent in 2025 and 68 percent in 2019, the lowest confidence level recorded since Gallup started tracking this data in 1999. The sentiment varies across political parties, with 70 percent of Republicans expressing confidence, contrasted with 30 percent of Democrats.

Recent outbreaks, including a major Cyclospora incident linked to contaminated lettuce that resulted in two deaths and affected over 12,000 people, have fueled these concerns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees food safety across the country.

Details from the Poll

Confidence in food safety has declined notably. Only 23 percent of Americans are now very confident compared to 31 percent in 2019, and those somewhat confident decreased from 50 percent to 42 percent. Meanwhile, those expressing little or no confidence increased from 18 percent to 34 percent.

Poll data shows 73 percent of respondents avoided certain food brands or types due to recalls or safety advisories in the last year. This is an increase from 53 percent in 2024. Additionally, 42 percent worried about consuming contaminated food, up from 26 percent in 2024.

Partisan Differences

Democrats experienced a sharper decline in trust. In 2024, under former President Joe Biden, 74 percent were confident in federal oversight, which fell to 48 percent in 2025 and 30 percent this year. In contrast, Republican confidence rose from 50 percent in 2024 to 70 percent in 2026, highlighting a substantial shift in perception.

Dan Blaustein-Rejto from the Food & Agriculture program at The Breakthrough Institute notes that these findings reflect political leanings as much as actual assessments of food safety. He suggests public opinion aligns with which political party controls the White House.

Overall, 77 percent of Republicans are confident in the safety of food sold at grocery stores, compared to 66 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independents. Nationally, confidence in grocery store food safety dropped to 65 percent from 81 percent in 2019.

Major Outbreaks in 2026

This year, notable foodborne illness outbreaks have further eroded confidence. The most significant Cyclospora outbreak, tied to lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico, caused nearly 12,883 illnesses across 21 states, resulting in 570 hospitalizations and two deaths. Cyclospora is a parasite causing gastrointestinal problems.

Additional outbreaks involved various food products. A Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs from Midwest Poultry Services affected 134 people across 18 states, leading to 34 hospitalizations and a recall of over 1.5 million dozen eggs. An E. coli outbreak from raw milk cheese resulted in 13 cases across nine states, including eight hospitalizations and three serious kidney complications.

Federal Oversight Challenges

Blaustein-Rejto points to enduring shortcomings in food safety oversight. A 2025 Government Accountability Office report noted the FDA’s failure to meet inspection targets for both domestic and foreign food facilities since 2018.

Staffing shortages are cited as a major hurdle, with insufficient investigators to inspect food production and distribution facilities. These challenges existed before President Donald Trump resumed office in 2025. Blaustein-Rejto suggests Trump’s administration staffing cuts may exacerbate these issues, though causation with increased foodborne illnesses remains unclear.

Improving public confidence requires tangible enhancements in food safety practices. Blaustein-Rejto emphasizes the need for higher inspection rates, faster outbreak responses, and greater transparency from the government about efforts to address these challenges. He insists that enhancing actual food safety outcomes is more effective than simply persuading the public of government competence.