I didn't know that IBM was in the survey business, but apparently it has just asked people what they think about the safety of the food supply. Fewer than 20% of the 1,000 people who responded said (what a surpise) that they trusted food companies to make safe and healthful foods.
More than 60 percent said they were worried about food safety and--this one really does surprise me--83 percent could name a food that was recalled in the past two years, mostly peanut butter.
IBM's conclusion? "These findings underscore how the rise in recalls and contamination has significantly eroded consumer confidence in food and product safety, as well as with the companies that manufacture and distribute these products." No kidding.
Now if Congress would only pay attention and do the right thing.
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But are they right? Has there been a significant rise is contamination? The evidence from the CDC doesn't seem to say so. Their FoodNet site contains the most update to date information on food safety trends and outbreaks. A survey of the other publications again shows no such trend.
Is there scientific evidence that food safety is more of a issue, or is it more a case of rising awareness, concern, or press coverage even though the numbers may not justify it?