How confident are you that the food you buy at the grocery store is safe to eat?

Very confident (13%) – "I don't think about it too often. I think the foods are "safe," but what I don't think is that the foods are healthy. Over long term, I think the dyes, preservatives, and additives are contributing to a wealth of problems. I was hopeful that we would be moving towards European standards at least, but that doesn't seem to be happening."

Somewhat confident (35%) – "The only reason I'm somewhat confident is because HEB, in Texas, has a secondary inspection department that does an additional check on all produce and meat. Other than that I would not be confident what so ever."

• "I buy organic and local as much as possible. Yes, prices of those foods tend to be higher, but I feel like safety and quality are worth it. I try to be extra diligent with washing produce bought at grocery stores and tend to buy from places like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s where maybe they do better with food things."

"I am still somewhat confident in food safety. However, the elimination of many of the safety protocols designed to "catch and kill" outbreaks have been erased or downsized by this administration, with a big shout out to DOGE. In addition, elimination of personnel within the food safety inspection system doesn't enhance our ability to track, warn the public, and quarantine the identified issue. Almost everything can and has been affected. Fresh produce, canned goods, meat and poultry, etc. I see the retailers taking some action in light of the food safety system's shortfalls. Retailers have an aversion to liability. Though I do have confidence, it can be a roll of the dice."

• "Life has risk and our food always has the chance of contamination. Yet also we have a highly sophisticated food supply chain and it does no good to live constantly in fear."

Neutral (17%) – "This Administration’s unwarranted cuts to the USDA and a number of Public Health Agencies, has eroded the inspection and food safety mechanisms, that served to protect the US population. As a result, public confidence has eroded substantially."

• "You need to clarify the question. I am highly confident in the raw natural foods - the kind you fully prepare. I am less confident in packaged, raw, ready to eat food like packaged lettuce, and unconfident in pre-made food - canned, natural food like fruit and vegetables being the exception provided they are packaged in the same manner used a hundred years ago."

Not very confident (23%) – "From Red 40 to microplastics, food health has become a meme. The American cultural image has been entrenched within unhealthy food habits for a long time. So, while I choose to not partake in certain foods, and dread to think what is inside them, I don't want unwise, rash regulations either. Regardless, food in the US is not healthy."

• "I only buy fresh organic vegetables when available as I don't trust the gov to keep us safe from pesticides/herbicides and 'fake' fresh foods such as those coated with wax. I seldom buy anything processed industrially except that which is naturally fermented or which has healthy ingredients (not seed oils, farmed grains, or hormone laden milk/meat). Yep, as Will Rodgers once said '...I believe our Congress is the best that money can buy!'"

Not at all confident (12%) – "I am just as worried about the correct listing of ingredients, especially for organic food, as I am about the safety of the products. European countries prohibit many of the products that we regularly consume in our food. Kennedy was supposed to address this and the reason he developed such a strong base but he has done the opposite."