Public Confidence in Federal Food Safety at Record Low

Recent polling indicates a significant decline in Americans’ trust in the federal government’s capacity to protect the nation’s food supply. This drop comes amid a spike in foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls this year. A report by Gallup, published on October 8, shows only 47 percent of Americans have a great deal or fair amount of confidence in food safety measures by the federal government, marking a decrease from 53 percent in 2025 and 68 percent in 2019. This level of confidence is the lowest recorded by Gallup since 1999.

Political Divisions in Trust

There are notable differences between political parties. Seventy percent of Republicans trust the government’s ability to ensure food safety, whereas only 30 percent of Democrats share this sentiment.

This lack of trust aligns with several significant foodborne illness events in the United States this year. A major Cyclospora outbreak linked to contaminated lettuce affected over 12,000 individuals and resulted in two fatalities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for nationwide food safety oversight.

The poll found a drop in confidence levels. Those very confident decreased from 31 percent in 2019 to 23 percent recently. Those somewhat confident fell from 50 percent to 42 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage expressing little or no confidence nearly doubled, rising from 18 percent to 34 percent.

Gallup also noted that 73 percent of respondents avoided specific brands or types of food due to recalls or safety warnings, up from 53 percent in 2024. Additionally, 42 percent expressed concern that their food might be contaminated, an increase from 26 percent in 2024.

Political Differences in Confidence

Democrats have experienced a more significant decline in confidence. During Biden’s administration in 2024, 74 percent of Democrats were confident in federal food safety oversight; Republican confidence was at 50 percent. Democratic confidence dropped to 48 percent in 2025 and is now 30 percent. In contrast, Republican confidence increased to 62 percent in 2025 and 70 percent currently.

Dan Blaustein-Rejto, director of the Food & Agriculture program at The Breakthrough Institute, suggests the findings reflect political affiliations as much as food safety perceptions. He pointed out that confidence levels often align with the current administration—Republicans are more confident when Trump is in office, while Democrats were more trusting under Biden.

About 77 percent of Republicans believe most grocery store food is safe to eat, compared to 66 percent of Democrats and 60 percent of independents. Overall, American confidence in grocery store food safety dropped from 81 percent in 2019 to 65 percent.

Major Foodborne Illness Outbreaks in 2026

Several significant foodborne illness outbreaks have contributed to the decline in public confidence this year. A Cyclospora outbreak tied to lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico led to 12,883 reported illnesses, 570 hospitalizations, and two deaths in 21 states. Other outbreaks included Salmonella linked to eggs from Midwest Poultry Services, which sickened 134 people and led to 34 hospitalizations. In July, over 1.5 million dozen eggs were recalled. Additionally, an E. coli outbreak related to raw milk cheese resulted in 13 cases, eight hospitalizations, and three cases of a severe kidney complication.

Challenges in Federal Oversight

Blaustein-Rejto suggests that the decline in confidence is rooted in longstanding issues within federal food safety oversight. A 2025 Government Accountability Office report criticized the FDA for not meeting inspection targets consistently since 2018. Staffing shortages have been identified as a key issue.

The Trump administration’s staffing reductions could exacerbate these issues, although Blaustein-Rejto cautions against prematurely linking these cuts to increased foodborne illnesses. He emphasizes that restoring confidence demands measurable progress in preventing and addressing outbreaks, including higher inspection rates, quicker responses, and improved transparency about corrective actions.