Europeans remain strongly engaged with food safety, according to the latest Special Eurobarometer on Food Safety conducted between March and April 2025 across all EU Member States. Commissioned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the survey captures how citizens perceive, understand, and act on food-related risks.
Food Safety Is Personal
Across Europe, 72% of citizens say they are personally interested in food safety. Interest is exceptionally high in Greece (98%), Cyprus (95%), and Finland (88%), demonstrating how closely food safety connects to people’s everyday lives. When it comes to what shapes food choices, price (60%) and taste (51%) remain the top factors. Yet nearly half of Europeans (46%) place food safety among their main considerations — showing that safety is not only a regulatory issue, but a personal value.
Growing Awareness and Shifting Concerns
Awareness of food safety topics continues to rise across the EU. Europeans are most aware of additives and preservatives in food (71%), pesticide residues (67%), animal diseases (65%), and residues of antibiotics or hormones in meat (64%). Awareness of microplastics in food has grown significantly, reaching 63% — an eight-point increase since 2022.
When asked what worries them most, citizens primarily mention pesticide residues (39%), antibiotic residues (36%), and additives (35%). Microplastics (33%) have emerged as a growing public concern, reflecting a wider awareness of how environmental issues affect human health.
Balancing Health, Trust, and Action
Europeans are not only informed but also ready to act. Nearly eight in ten citizens say they would change how they prepare or consume food if advised to do so by authorities following a safety incident. This shows a strong link between awareness, trust, and behaviour.
Television remains the most popular source of information (55%), though younger generations increasingly rely on online platforms and social media. When it comes to trust, doctors (90%) and scientists (84%) are the most reliable sources, followed by consumer organisations and farmers. Encouragingly, trust in EU institutions and national authorities has also grown since 2022 — a vital foundation for effective communication in times of risk.
Confidence in the EU System
Public confidence in the EU’s food safety framework is solid. Nearly eight in ten Europeans agree that the EU has strong regulations to ensure food safety, and three-quarters recognise that decisions are grounded in scientific advice. Awareness of EFSA’s role as an independent provider of scientific evidence is also on the rise, reflecting growing transparency and engagement across the EU.
EFRA – Turning Insights into Action
The findings of this report resonate directly with the EFRA mission. EFRA aims to move the EU food system from reactive to proactive by using AI-driven predictive analytics to anticipate risks before they occur. By combining data from across the food chain, EFRA strengthens the EU’s capacity for early detection, prevention, and informed communication — ultimately building on the public trust and awareness highlighted in this Eurobarometer.
