Food safety concerns grow with restaurant-style foods in the supermarket
In-store dining and take-out of prepared foods from grocers has grown nearly 30% since 2008, and accounted for 2.4 billion foodservice visits and $10 billion of consumer spending in 2015.
With the rise of the grocerant — supermarkets that offer prepared, restaurant-style foods — comes consumer concerns regarding food safety. Although the majority of U.S. consumers feel that foods in supermarkets are safe, the percentage who feels this way has decreased over the last 10 years, as grocery stores have increased prepared food offerings, according to The NPD Group, Chicago.
NPD Group has tracked food safety concerns in the United States since 2001. The survey indicates that in 2006, 66% agreed with the statement that foods sold in supermarkets are safe, and in 2016 (thru August) only 58% of adults agree with the statement.