Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast · Food Safety Specialists: Matthew Regusci and Francine L Shaw

Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits an All-Time Low | Episode 130

September 2, 2025·42 min·3 clips

Consumer confidence in U.S. food safety has plummeted from 78% to 55% in just over a decade.

This episode of Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast examines a significant drop in U.S. consumer confidence in food safety, based on an annual survey by the International Food Information Council. Hosts Francine L. Shaw and Matt Regusci, both industry veterans, analyze the data and its implications for the food industry. The IFIC survey, which has polled 3,000 adults annually since 2012, shows confidence fell from 78% in 2012 to 55% in 2025. The decline is most pronounced among Gen Z consumers, higher-income men, and Asian Americans. Major concerns include a belief that company profits outweigh food safety, cited by 59% of respondents with low confidence. Nearly half, 46%, feel there is insufficient government regulation of the food supply. Top specific worries are foodborne pathogens like *Listeria*, *E. coli*, and *Salmonella*, with about half of consumers ranking these among their top three concerns. Concerns about chemicals and heavy metals remain high, with 46% worried about pesticides and 41% about heavy metals, though these rankings fell slightly from 2024. The hosts connect the heavy metal concern to incidents like the 2023 lead contamination in cinnamon applesauce pouches. A notable shift is that only 32% of consumers now believe imported foods are less safe than U.S. foods, down from 52% in 2014. The hosts suggest increased global connectivity and awareness have driven this change. They also note that 38% of consumers believe food colors need stricter government review and labeling, a topic gaining political traction. The hosts argue that this loss of trust, particularly among younger generations who demand verification over promises, will force the industry to adapt. They reference the Clean Label Project certification as an example of the validation consumers now seek. Matt Regusci posits that food safety could become a viable platform for political candidates given these heightened public concerns. The tone is conversational and opinionated, blending data analysis with personal anecdotes and industry experience. The style is informal, with hosts frequently joking and digressing into stories about their families before returning to the topic. This episode is ideal for food industry professionals, policymakers, or concerned consumers interested in market trends and food safety culture. Listeners seeking a strictly formal, data-only presentation without personal commentary might find the tangents less engaging.

As heard by us

A blunt look at why trust in the U.S. food supply is slipping.

Food safety confidence keeps slipping, and Francine L. Shaw and Matt Regushi treat that decline as more than a talking point. They move from the drop from 78% in 2012 to 55% in 2025, with 62% in 2024 as the recent comparison, into the harder pressures behind it: outbreaks,…

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You want the straight story on why confidence in food safety is dropping.

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