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Rebuilding Confidence in the U.S. Food System and Why FES’s Work Matters
- caseyfox6
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
Confidence in the U.S. food system is slipping at a moment when safety, transparency, and trust have never been more important. According to the 2025 IFIC Food and Health Survey, only 55 percent of U.S. adults feel very or somewhat confident in the food supply, down from 62 percent in 2024. Consumers point to concerns that profit is prioritized over safety, that the system is fragmented, and that frequent recalls continue to erode trust. (International Food Information Council)
At the same time, the FDA is considering shifting routine food safety inspections from federal to state agencies. While this change may streamline oversight, it also raises serious questions about consistency, capacity, and how well smaller producers and local suppliers will be supported in meeting increasingly complex requirements.
Together, these trends highlight a growing challenge for the U.S. food system. Public trust depends not only on regulation, but on the ability of food businesses to implement strong safety systems, demonstrate quality, and operate with transparency.
Why This Matters for Food Enterprise Solutions
This is exactly where Food Enterprise Solutions (FES) plays a critical role. Food safety systems do more than protect public health. They shape markets, determine which businesses can grow, and influence whether buyers and consumers feel confident in the food they purchase.
Through programs such as Business Drivers for Food Safety (BD4FS), FES works directly with food enterprises to strengthen the systems that underpin safe, high quality, and reliable food production. BD4FS helps businesses improve food safety practices, meet buyer and regulatory expectations, and demonstrate credibility in competitive markets. This support is especially important for small and medium enterprises that may not have the resources to navigate shifting local, state, and federal requirements on their own.
Rather than treating food safety as a compliance burden, BD4FS helps companies use it as a business tool. Strong safety systems reduce risk, improve operational efficiency, and open doors to new buyers, contracts, and markets.
Equity is also central to this work. Changes in inspection systems and regulatory oversight often hit minority owned and underrepresented enterprises the hardest. Without the right support, these businesses can be pushed out of markets or prevented from scaling. FES ensures that all food entrepreneurs have access to the knowledge, tools, and technical guidance they need to grow with confidence and stability.
Public Trust and Opportunity
Low confidence in food safety affects both public health and economic growth. When consumers hesitate, demand declines. Inconsistent standards increase costs. Recalls can damage businesses financially and reputationally. By helping food enterprises strengthen their systems and demonstrate reliability through BD4FS, FES creates conditions where consumers feel confident, and businesses can compete on quality, safety, and transparency. This is how safer food systems become stronger markets.
Looking Ahead
The conversation around food safety in the United States is evolving. Whether it is changing inspection structures, declining consumer trust, or growing complexity in supply chains, food enterprises need more than rules. They need practical, on the ground support to build systems that work.
FES empowers entrepreneurs not just to meet standards but to build resilient businesses that set them. In doing so, it helps create a food system that is safer, more transparent, and more equitable for everyone.
For more information, visit us at www.foodsolutions.global or contact us at info@foodsolutions.global
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