Unlock the Power of Consumer Insights with CivicScience

Food Product Recalls and Consumer Concerns

In the past several months, a series of large-scale food product recalls due to foodborne illnesses like Listeria and E. coli have made headlines. The flow of such recall news shows no signs of slowing down, as another recall was announced over the weekend. A strong majority, 81%, are at least 'somewhat' concerned about these recalls, with 31% being 'very' concerned. In contrast, only 19% are 'not at all' concerned. This concern cuts across party lines, but Democrats are notably more likely to be worried than Republicans and Independents.

Despite the high level of concern, a significant portion of consumers still have faith in both grocery stores (55%) and food brands (53%) to ensure food safety. However, they are slightly more likely to express some distrust towards food brands (19%) than grocery stores (16%). The rest remain neutral.

Instances of Sickness and Product Avoidance

Although most consumers claim not to have been directly affected by recent food product recalls, the percentage of those affected has seen a slight increase from 28% in October to 30% now. The share of consumers who got sick from a recalled product has also risen from 6% to 8%. Additionally, 16% reported avoiding a product they usually buy, an increase of two points since October.

When looking at the types of food consumers avoided, fresh foods like meat and produce were the most commonly affected. Processed and packaged foods came in a distant second, while similar percentages of consumers avoided nearly all other categories.

The Need for Proactive Action

The rise in food recalls and consumer avoidance of certain products highlights the importance of brands and retailers taking proactive steps to address food safety concerns. With trust in grocery stores and brands at a delicate balance, those that can respond quickly and transparently may gain a competitive edge in retaining that trust. CivicScience plays a unique role in supporting these efforts by providing real-time insights into consumer sentiment and behaviors, enabling brands to adapt and build trust effectively.

Attitudes change before behaviors, and CivicScience helps clients stay ahead by uncovering the hidden consumer trends that lead to winning market strategies.