A survey from Mars Global Food Safety Center (GFSC), which questioned over 1,750 people across the US, UK and China, found that 52 percent consider food safety a top three global issue, while 77 percent rank it as a top 10 concern.

There is no doubt that Covid has intensified food insecurity across the world and the Mars survey did reveal fears from consumers over such matters, with 73 percent of respondents believing the pandemic will impact the viability of the global supply chain. Moreover, 71 percent think it will affect global access to food. The survey results also discovered that these consumers are thinking about food safety and security just as much as climate change and pollution, 39 percent and 38 percent respectively. 

“New food safety threats, like those posed by COVID-19, are constantly emerging through a combination of factors including global warming, increased globalisation of trade, as well as changes in agriculture practices and food production,” said David Crean, Mars Chief Science Officer and Vice President of Corporate R&D. “We believe everyone has a right to safe food and it’s also our responsibility to share our knowledge (82 percent of survey respondents expressed their desire to learn more), expertise and tools to enable safe food for all.”