Getting enough food to eat is something that many Americans have long taken for granted, but as the abundance of food in society has increased, food safety issues have become far more complex. Most Americans no longer obtain their food from their own fields and farm animals, but from grocery stores and restaurants. If Americans don't know exactly where their food is coming from, how can they be sure that it's safe to eat? The 1993 E. coli outbreak brought the issue of food safety into the public health limelight, but almost a decade later are Americans still concerned?
Public Confidence in Food Safety
Gallup's most recent measures from July 2001* show that Americans are currently very confident that their food is safe -- 89% say they are confident about the food at grocery stores and 77% are confident about the food they are served at restaurants. As indicated below, these percentages have increased since Gallup first asked these questions in 1999.
Americans' increased confidence may be justified. On April 17, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported declines in illnesses resulting from six of seven major types of dangerous bacteria found in food; rates of illness resulting from bacterial contaminations from E. coli, salmonella, listeria, shigella, campylobacter, and yersinia all dropped by at least 15% between 1996 and 2001. However, late last year the Bush administration abandoned a court battle with the meat industry over the enforcement of meat safety standards, leading some consumer groups to fear these gains may be reversed.
International Fears and Bioterrorism
Complicating the issue are new food safety concerns brought about by economic globalization and the increased fear of bioterrorism. According to a recent statement by Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, the amount of food entering the United States from foreign countries is increasing. Thus, tightening border inspections of all incoming food will be crucial in maintaining the safety standards required within U.S. borders.
Last fall's anthrax scare raised the issue of possible food supply contamination through acts of bioterrorism. A November 2001 Gallup poll confirmed Americans' fears about bioterrorism**. Americans reported bioterrorism as the country's most urgent healthcare concern (22%), supplanting cancer (19%), the cost of healthcare (19%), and AIDS (7%).
Since the attacks, and as recently as April 2, the Bush administration and Democrats in Congress have discussed the possible creation of either a single food safety agency or a coordinating body that would oversee the inspection of all food sources. Ridge has focused on the topic in many of his addresses on homeland security, and at a Food Safety Summit held in Washington D.C., on April 8, sponsored by the National Food Processors Association (NFPA).
In July 2001, when no one specific threat to the food supply was on the public's radar, Americans reported confidence in the federal government's ability to ensure the safety of the U.S. food supply. Eighty-two percent (82%) reported having at least a fair amount of confidence -- with 21 % reporting a great deal of confidence.
Biotechnology
Another emerging area of intense debate among lawmakers, scientists, environmentalists and food producers is the use of biotechnology in agriculture and food production. Biotechnology involves the alteration of genetic material through scientific techniques -- many debate whether biotechnology helps improve the quality and quantity of the food supply, or if it poses health threats in the process of refining food production.
In the July 2001 poll, Americans seemed to be less than concerned about the genetic engineering and modification of food. Nearly six in 10 were aware of biotechnology as an issue, to some degree, and a majority supported the use of biotechnology in food production. Fifty-three percent (53%) said that they did not believe that food that has been produced using biotechnology poses a serious health hazard to consumers.
*Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,038 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted July 19-22, 2001. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3%.
**Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,005 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Nov. 8-11, 2001. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the margin of sampling error is ±3%.