Following a spate of high-profile food recalls, less than 20% of US consumers now trust the food they eat to be safe, new research has revealed.
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According to an IBM Institute for Business Value survey of 1,000 US consumers, consumers are increasingly wary of the safety of food purchased at grocery stores.
The researchers said that consumer confidence in – and trust of – food retailers, manufacturers and grocers is declining, with only 55% of respondents stating that they trust food manufacturers when handling a recall – signifying a decrease in the level of trust over the past two years. Meanwhile, 72% said they trust the store where they buy groceries to properly handle food product contamination recalls
IBM suggested that high profile food recalls have had a profound impact on consumer attitudes to food safety – with 83% of respondents able to name a food product that was recalled in the past two years while 49% said they would be less likely to purchase a food product again if it was recalled due to contamination.
“Across the board, consumers are demanding transparency and more information about the food they purchase to ensure their safety and that of their families. As the government, industry associations, retailers and manufacturers work through the operational issues associated with ensuring food safety, we can each become more aware and take greater responsibility for the food we purchase,” said Guy Blissett, IBM consumer products leader.
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By GlobalData
