Pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, food additives and, above all, microplastics. These are the issues that most concern European citizens interviewed for the 2025 Eurobarometer on food safety. The survey, conducted by EFSA on a triennial basis, this year involved not only the 27 EU Member States but also the seven candidate countries for accession, interviewing more than 26,000 European consumers.
Factors influencing food choices
Around seven in ten Europeans declare that they take a personal interest in food safety. It represents the third factor guiding daily choices (46%), preceded only by cost (60%) and taste (51%).
The weight of the economic factor has risen dramatically, by six points compared to 2022, and is decisive in twenty Member States, particularly Latvia (76%), the Czech Republic (76%) and Cyprus (74%). In three countries, the origin of food is instead the most decisive variable, especially Slovenia (66%), Luxembourg (59%) and Italy (55%). In the latter, food safety carries exactly the same weight (55%), ranking first also in Romania (51%).
Taste is the leading factor in Austria and Hungary (55% in both) and Slovakia (56%). By contrast, the Dutch place nutritional profile first (57%).
Who is interested in food safety
The socio-demographic analysis of the data collected reveals that certain social categories show greater interest in food safety:
- women (77% compared with 68% of men);
- older people (72–75% compared with 63% of young people aged 15–24);
- the more educated. 76% of those who completed full-time education at age 20 or later show an interest, compared with 71% of those who left school at 15 or earlier. Those still studying show the least interest (62%);
- cleaners (81%), followed by managers (76%), compared especially with students (64%) and the unemployed (68%);
- those with only occasional or no financial difficulties (both 73%), compared with those facing such difficulties regularly (69%).
Food risks most feared by Europeans
When asked what worries them most when thinking about possible problems or risks associated with food and diet, nearly three in ten European citizens cite the presence of chemical contaminants (28%). The issue dominates in 15 countries, with the highest percentages in Cyprus (47%), Austria (45%) and Greece (40%).
Other concerns (12% EU average) include:
- additives and ingredients (17%), peaking at 38% in Hungary;
- quality and freshness (14%), especially in Slovakia (36%), Latvia (35%), the Czech Republic (30%) and Lithuania (24%);
- rising prices, strongly felt in Estonia, where one in four citizens (25%) report it;
- risks to human health, ranked first in Romania (25%) and Spain (20%);
- concerns about food origin and imports. In Ireland and Finland, this is the most commonly reported problem (17% and 15%, respectively).
Just over one in ten respondents mentions concerns linked to biological contaminants (11%). All other categories are mentioned by fewer than one in ten. Among these, environmental impact and climate change (9% EU average) are pressing in Denmark (35%).
Awareness among EU citizens
Almost half of EU citizens (46%) demonstrate a high or very high level of awareness on food safety issues, meaning they had heard of 13 (very high) or 10 (high) of the 15 topics listed in the survey. Compared to the 2022 Eurobarometer, the percentage of citizens with high or very high awareness has increased by eight points.
Popular topics
Some issues are now familiar to EU citizens. This is the case for food additives (reported as well known by 71% of respondents), pesticide residues (67%), zoonoses (65%), residues of antibiotics, hormones or steroids in meat (64%), microplastics in food (63%), food poisoning from bacteria, viruses and parasites (62%), environmental pollutants in fish, meat or dairy (61%), and animal welfare (61%). Other topics are also firmly rooted, cited by more than half of those interviewed: GMOs (59%), traces of food contact materials such as plastics or aluminium in packaging (55%), antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food (55%), and plant diseases affecting crops (51%). A smaller proportion report familiarity with mycotoxins in food and feed crops (44%), the use of new biotechnologies in food production such as genome editing (37%), or nanotechnology applied to food production (30%).
Emerging issues
Knowledge – and consequently awareness of risks – has increased markedly compared to the 2022 Eurobarometer for the following topics:
- microplastics and new biotechnologies such as genome editing (both +8%);
- traces of food contact materials such as plastics or aluminium in packaging, and mycotoxins in food and feed crops (both +6%);
- zoonoses, food poisoning from contaminated food and drink, and nanotechnology (-5%);
- animal welfare and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food (+4%).
The most prominent topics at the national level
National health policies and information shape EU citizens’ knowledge of different food safety issues. In 15 Member States, citizens are most aware of additives (colourings, preservatives or flavourings). The highest figures are in Sweden (96%), Denmark (85%) and Latvia (82%).
Pesticide residues are most frequently cited in six other countries, with the highest rates in Greece (89%), France (81%), where national authorities are highly focused on the issue, and Slovenia (81%).
Residues of antibiotics, hormones or steroids in meat are the most familiar food safety issue in Slovakia (79%), Croatia (64%) and Italy (61%). In Italy, zoonoses, on the rise in the EU in 2023, are equally significant.
Microplastics in food are more frequently reported in Finland (90%), Luxembourg (86%), and Germany (74%). Among Germans, animal welfare carries the same weight (74%).
In Bulgaria (64%) and the Czech Republic (60%), zoonoses are the top issue. In Romania, food poisoning from contaminated food or drink is the most frequently reported concern (63%).
Aware and concerned
EU citizens were asked to specify which food safety issues, among those they were familiar with, concerned them the most. Compared to 2022, there have been few changes in the level of concern across topics. The exception is concern about microplastics in food, which has risen by four points. The top three sources of concern are:
- pesticide residues in food (39%). This is the most reported issue in ten countries, with the highest figures in Greece (62%), Portugal (57%) and France (52%);
- residues of antibiotics, hormones or steroids in meat (36%). This is the most frequently chosen answer in six other countries, peaking in Sweden (54%), Slovakia (48%) and Austria (44%);
- food additives such as colourings, preservatives and flavourings used in food or drink (35%). This is a major concern in Lithuania (58%), Estonia (48%) and Hungary (46%).
Follows microplastics in food (33%), food poisoning from contaminated food or drink (32%), and diseases in animals, e.g. those affecting livestock or humans (30%).
Around a quarter of EU citizens point to environmental pollutants in fish, meat or dairy (28%), antibiotic-resistant bacteria in food (26%), genetically modified ingredients in food or drink (25%), and farm animal welfare, e.g. during transport (24%).
Less frequently mentioned are traces of food contact materials such as plastics or aluminium in packaging (18%), mycotoxins in food and feed crops (13%), plant diseases affecting crops (11%), new biotechnologies, primarily genome editing (9%), and nanotechnologies applied to food production (6%).
Diet and health according to EU citizens
Eating more fruit and vegetables is considered the most important behaviour for a healthy diet by about five in ten (53%), especially in Slovakia (62%), Spain (61%) and Greece (59%). However, this has fallen by -8% compared to 2022. By contrast, the emphasis on reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods has grown, chosen by 39% of respondents, an increase of +7%, especially in Denmark (56%), where the “Bliss effect” seems to have been exposed by consumers.
The other options most frequently chosen as important for a healthy diet are eating/drinking:
- less sugar (41%), most often in Sweden (72%), the Netherlands (59%) and Estonia (54%);
- less fat (40%), especially in Portugal (57%) and France (57%);
- locally produced food (35%), most frequent in Slovenia (64%);
- less salt (34%);
- more fish (24%);
- organic products (23%);
- more legumes, pulses and nuts (22%), peaking in Cyprus (48%);
- more fibre (21%).
Smaller proportions consider it healthy to consume:
- less meat and dairy, and lower-calorie foods (both 18%);
- mostly plant-based food (15%);
- more protein (11%);
- less protein (5%).
Socio-demographic analysis shows predictable trends. Older age groups (55+) emphasise reducing salt and ultra-processed foods, and increasing fish consumption. The youngest (15–24) opt for more protein, while young adults (25–39) lean towards organic products and reducing meat and dairy.
The link between a healthy diet and food safety
Regarding the relationship between attention to a healthy diet and food safety, 41% of respondents state they devote equal attention to both, five points lower than in 2022.
One third (34%) report focusing more on a balanced diet (+3), while 23% are more concerned about food risks (+2).
Perceptions of the link between human health, animal health and the environment remain similar to 2022: most citizens consider animal issues (53%) and environmental issues (51%) to have a strong impact on human health. However, in the case of environmental and plant-related issues, there has been a shift from “strong impact” to “moderate impact”.
Sources of information
As for trust in sources of information, European citizens continue to consider specialist and doctors the most credible (90%). They are followed by scientists working in universities or public research institutes (84%), consumer organisations (82%) and farmers or primary producers (82%). Trust in national authorities (70%) and European institutions (69%) has also increased slightly compared to 2022, by four and three points respectively.
In terms of channels through which citizens learn about food risks, television remains the most used (55%), although down six points from 2022. Next come conversations with family, friends and colleagues (42%) and online search engines (38%). Social media and blogs are increasing, cited by 25% of respondents, up four points.
Trust in the system and self-management of risk
The main reason why some citizens do not seek specific information on food safety is the belief that products on the market are already safe: 41% of respondents declare this, with the highest figures in Sweden (61%), Portugal and Finland (both 56%), and the lowest in Greece (28%), Latvia (29%), France and Romania (both 31%).
Another 30% of EU respondents believe they already have sufficient knowledge to prevent or limit risks. Almost half of the citizens in Croatia (49%) and Slovenia (46%) state this. At the opposite end, fewer than three in ten share this view in Portugal (23%), Spain (25%), and France, Italy and the Czech Republic (all 27%).
What stands out, however, is the view of the majority in Greece: more than four in ten (43%) state that food safety information is often highly technical and complex, and therefore inaccessible.
Increasing knowledge of EU mechanisms
Eight out of ten EU citizens (79%) agree that regulations exist to ensure food safety, an increase of six points compared to the previous survey. Similarly, 76% acknowledge that the EU relies on scientists for specialist advice (+6), 68% are aware of a separate institution providing scientific opinions (+7), and 71% are convinced that European and national authorities cooperate with one another (+6).
Marta Strinati
Cover art copyright © 2025 Dario Dongo (AI-assisted creation)
References
- EFSA. Special Eurobarometer 103.3. Food safety in the EU. 2025
Professional journalist since January 1995, he has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic surveys on food, she has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
