What to make of this gallup poll?

Nearly half of US adult consumers lack confidence in the government’s ability to keep the food supply safe.

Whaaaaaa …. ????

Perhaps I know too much about agencies’ efforts to keep the food chain safe not to trust the food I eat. When I read of a recall, I know that — at least most of the time — it’s an indication of the food safety system working. (There are exceptions …. lookin’ at you, Boar’s Head.) But, I remind myself, I have access to information most consumers don’t.

Gallup recently released the results of a poll the agency had done with 1,000 US adults, which found that 53% have a “great deal” (12%) or “fair amount” of confidence (41%) in the federal government to keep the food supply safe. Put another way, 47% have “not much” confidence or “none at all.”

That’s a new low, Gallup reports. As recently as 2019, 68% of US consumers had some level of confidence in the government’s ability to ensure a safe food system.

(The poll asked about all foods, but animal protein is in a category all its own in the need for food safety interventions and for how consumers react when contamination slips through.)

Furthermore, the results showed that 73% of US adults are “very” (24%) or “somewhat” confident (49%) that food sold in grocery stores is safe to eat. The gap between 53% who trust the government and 73% who believe their groceries are safe would seem to cast a shadow on the restaurant and foodservice channels, but the release from Gallup doesn’t address it.

What I see is, yes, a gaping opportunity to tell consumers about US food safety research and regulations, and the industry. And a looming challenge: Consumers tune out the data and the science, but illustrating the country’s food safety accomplishments require data and science.

Is this the only, so-far-nearly-futile option for messaging to consumers that food supply chain has? Or, do you see an option, and if so, what is it?