In the U.S., many adults believe they eat healthily. A recent poll shows that 73% of Americans trust that grocery store food is safe. However, confidence in the federal government’s role in food safety has hit a new low, with only 53% feeling secure about government regulations. These insights come from Gallup’s July Consumption Habits survey.
Overall, 24% of U.S. adults consider their diet “very healthy,” while 60% think it’s “somewhat healthy.” This trend has mostly stayed steady since Gallup started tracking this data back in 2001. Interestingly, people with higher education levels report healthier diets. Among those with postgraduate degrees, 90% say their diets are healthy, compared to 78% of those with a high school education or less.
When it comes to reading nutrition labels, 75% of Americans are paying attention. About one-third say they focus a lot on the nutritional information, while 42% pay a fair amount of attention. Women are generally more diligent than men in this regard. The latest poll found that 81% of women read labels compared to 70% of men.
In this survey, Gallup explored what people actually look for on labels. The most common items are sugar (47%) and calories (37%), followed by carbohydrates (17%) and protein (15%). This is a new approach in the survey, offering valuable insights into consumer preferences.
Regarding food warnings and nutritional guidelines, 60% of Americans are aware of them, with 25% paying close attention. This level of concern hasn’t changed much in recent decades, although there was a brief spike in awareness after health scares like the E. coli outbreak in 2006.
On the topic of food safety in grocery stores, 73% of adults feel confident about the safety of these foods, which is similar to last year but significantly down from 81% in 2019. This change may be influenced by recent food recalls and the ongoing scrutiny of food safety, particularly in the wake of the pandemic.
In terms of government trust, confidence has dropped notably since 2019. Just 53% feel secure in the government’s ability to ensure food safety. This number reflects political shifts, as trust among Democrats declined sharply, while Republican confidence rose in response to a change in administration.
To put this in perspective, historically, confidence in government food safety measures was much higher, often hovering around 80% in the early 2000s before dipping during crises. The current figure signals a growing divide in trust based on political affiliation, reflecting broader public sentiment towards governmental institutions.
In summary, while Americans express confidence in grocery store food safety and report healthier diets, trust in government oversight is waning. Education, income, and gender significantly affect how people approach food labeling and dietary health, underscoring the complexities of food consumption in the current landscape.
