Vast majority of the public 'trust UK food ... and want more'

AT a time of extensive speculation about increased imports as a result of trade deals, new research commissioned by Red Tractor reveals that 94% of UK consumers trust food produced in the UK, more than other countries worldwide.

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Nine in ten people (90%) want to see more food produced in the UK. Meanwhile just around a third of people say they trust food produced in the US (33%) and India (31%) - a steep decline from the Index’s 2023 findings of 74% and 62% respectively.

Many people believe these countries have lower animal welfare standards than the UK. Nearly three out of five Brits (57%) believe the US has lower standards than our own, potentially causing concern about products entering the UK market - up from 46% in 2023.

Red Tractor, which certifies British farms and supply chain businesses who meet the high standards required to use its logo, said the higher level of trust in food is due to a “number of factors” with “rising confidence” across all aspects of UK food production and assurance.

Ninety per cent of adults now believe that food produced in the UK is safe [2024: 83%, 2023: 72%], 88% say it is good quality [2024: 81%, 2023: 73%], and 86% are confident that UK food is traceable through the supply chain [2024: 86%, 2023: 64%].