Ninety-four percent of U.S. adults are concerned about the frequency of food recalls, up slightly from 93% in 2025, according to a new consumer survey commissioned by GS1 US.
At the same time, fewer people believe food recalls are effective in protecting public health and safety, (80% compared to 85% in 2025), underscoring consumers’ diminishing trust in the U.S. food supply.
“Food recalls are one of the ways the food safety system works to protect consumers, whether the issue involves contamination, undeclared allergens, foreign objects or mislabeling,” says Bob Carpenter, president and CEO of GS1 US. “The challenge is making recall response more precise so companies can quickly identify and remove affected products while giving consumers clearer information about what is—and is not—impacted. Traceability, supported by common standards and better data sharing across the supply chain, is essential to that effort.”
Key takeaways:
· 67% have avoided an entire food product category following a recall, up from 60% in 2025.
· 66% are hesitant to purchase the same product or brand again, up from 59% last year.
· 59% have discarded recalled food even when their state or region was not affected, compared with 57% in 2025. Women are especially likely to pull back, with 71% saying they have avoided a whole category, compared with 63% of men.
· While only 9% of consumers report that they would never purchase the recalled brand again, those who would consider repurchasing cited several key factors that would influence their decision, including: the time since the recall (39%), severity of the contamination (39%), and recommendations from authorities (35%).
