2025 Eurobarometer on Food Safety in the EU: Infographic
Most important factors when buying food
EU citizens think the following are most important factors when buying food...
- 60% Cost (+6 pp vs 2022)
- 51% Taste (=)
- 46% Food safety (=)
- 42% Its origin (-4 pp)
- 39% Nutrient content (-2 pp)
- 15% Impact on the environment & climate (-1 pp)
- 14% Your ethics and beliefs (-1 pp)
Concerns about food safety
Top 5 from a predefined set
When asked which items concerned them the most from a set of potential food concerns, citizens’ most commonly reported food concern
- 39% Pesticide residues in food (-1 pp vs 2022)
- 36% Antibiotic, hormone or steroid residues in meat (-3 pp)
- 35% Additives used in food or drinks (-1 pp)
- 33% Microplastics found in food (+4 pp)
- 32% Food poisoning (contamination 32%by bacteria, viruses, and parasites) (=)
Awareness of food safety topics
Most commonly reported topics respondents are aware of
- 71% Additives used in food or drinks (+1 pp vs 2022)
- 67% Pesticide residues in food (+2 pp)
- 65% Diseases found in animals (+5 pp)
- 64% Antibiotic, hormone or steroid residues in meat (+1 pp)
- 63% Microplastics found in food (+8 pp)
Level of awareness
- Very high (13 to 15 topics): 28% (+7 pp)
- High (10 to 12 topics): 18% (+1 pp)
- Medium (6 to 9 topics): 22% (-2 pp)
- Low (3 to 5 topics): 19% (-7 pp)
- Very low (up to 2 topics): 13% (+1 pp)
Concerns about food risks
Unprompted question | Top 3
When EU citizen think about the problems or risks associated with food and eating they are the most concerned about...
- 28% Presence of chemical contaminants
- 17% Additives and ingredients
- 14% Quality and freshness
Personal interest in food safety
- 72% of EU citizens are personally interested in food safety (+2 pp vs 2022)
- 27% are not (-2 pp)
Trust in sources of information on food risks
- 90% General practitioners and specialist doctors (+1 pp vs 2022)
- 84% Scientists working at a university or publicly-funded research organisation (+2 pp)
- 82% Farmers and primary producers (+8 pp)
- 82% Consumer organisations (=)
- 72% Environmental/Health NGOs (+2 pp)
- 70% National authorities (+4 pp)
- 69% EU institutions (+3 pp)
- 66% Scientists working at an industrial or privately funded research organisation (+3 pp)
- 60% Supermarkets or local grocer (+3 pp)
- 52% Journalists (+3 pp)
- 49% Food industries (+4 pp)
- 22% Celebrities, bloggers and influencers (+2 pp)
Main sources of information about food risks
Top 5
- 55% Television on a TV set or via the internet (-6 pp vs 2022)
- 42% Exchanges with family, friends, neighbours, or colleagues (-2 pp)
- 38% Internet search engine (+1 pp)
- 26% Online social networks and blogs (+4 pp)
- 25% Newspapers (online or in print) (-3 pp)
Awareness of the EU food safety system
- 79% Regulations are in place to make sure that the food we eat is safe (+6 pp)
- 76% EU relies on scientists to give expert advice decide how risky something could be for you to eat (+6 pp)
- 71% EU and authorities in your country responsible for food safety work together (+6 pp)
- 68% EU has a separate institution that provides scientific advice on the safety of food (+7 pp)
Reasons for not paying attention to information about food safety
Top 3 main reasons
- 41% Takes it for granted that the food sold is safe
- 30% Knows enough to avoid or mitigate food risks
- 27% Food safety information is often highly technical and complex
Source: Special Eurobarometer – Food safety
Fieldwork: 26 March to 22 April 2025, 26 374 face-to-face interviews with EU citizens, aged 15 and over, in the 27 EU Member States