FSA reports rise in consumer food safety confidence

Public confidence in food safety across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland has increased, according to a survey by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The survey, conducted between October 2024 and February 2025 with 5,690 adults, found that 94 percent of respondents are confident that the food they buy is safe to eat. This is a higher proportion than in the previous three surveys, when the rate was between 88 and 90 percent.

It is also the highest level of public confidence in food safety since the Food and You 2 project began in 2020.

Strong confidence in food safety

Respondents were more likely to have concerns about food produced outside the UK being safe and hygienic and what it says it is compared to food made in the UK.

“These findings show that the public has strong confidence in food safety, which is very encouraging to see. Our job is to protect people by making sure food is safe and what it says it is, and this trust reflects the hard work across the food system,” said Katie Pettifer, FSA chief executive.

A recent Eurobarometer survey by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) revealed seven in 10 Europeans are personally interested in food safety.