Poll Finds Majority of U.S. Voters Lack Confidence in Government Food Safety Oversight

A majority of U.S. registered voters have little or no confidence in government oversight of food safety, according to a new national poll from Quinnipiac University.

The poll found 55% of voters said they have either “not so much” confidence or no confidence at all in government oversight of food safety in the United States. Thirty percent said they have no confidence at all, while 25% said they have not so much confidence.

By comparison, 43% expressed confidence in government food safety oversight, including 31% who said they have some confidence and 12% who said they have a lot of confidence.

Responses varied significantly by political affiliation. Seventy percent of Republicans said they have either a lot or some confidence in government food safety oversight, compared with 25% of Democrats and 38% of independents. Meanwhile, 73% of Democrats and 61% of independents said they have not so much confidence or none at all, compared with 26% of Republicans.

The findings come amid heightened attention to food safety following several large multistate foodborne illness outbreaks and ongoing debate over federal food safety resources and oversight.

Quinnipiac surveyed 963 self-identified registered voters nationwide from July 23-27. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Quinnipiac said the survey used probability-based samples and random-digit dialing, with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones.