Ninety-four percent of Americans say they trust their food is safe yes, according to a survey released by Cargill, Wichita, Kan.

Cargill’s latest Feed4Thought survey, which polled more than 1,000 people in the United States in April, found that 94% say they trust that the meat they buy for grilling is safe to eat. The survey also found that nearly 80% believed food producers are taking the necessary steps to ensure their meat is safe for grilling, while 87% believed an animal’s diet can have an impact on food safety.

“We’re entering the season where Americans turn to the grill to prepare their meals, and food safety is top-of-mind,” says Chuck Warta, president, Cargill Premix and Nutrition. “It’s clear that consumers continue to care very deeply about where their food comes from and how it is raised, and they are increasingly aware that safety actually begins on the farm with what is in an animal’s diet.”

Additional results from the Feed4Thought survey include:

• 72% of Americans say they grill, with 41% grilling at least once a week.
• Favorite grilling options:
  • 42% steak
  • 25% hamburgers
  • 18% chicken
  • 12% pork chops/ribs
• 79% indicated they grill their meat to proper temperatures.
• 38% read packaging labels for inspection and certification information.

“Food is very personal, so it’s important that we continue to build trust with consumers regarding the health, safety and sustainability of the meat they eat,” says Brian Sikes, president, Cargill Protein. “At Cargill, we have hundreds of food safety professionals across our North America protein business working hard every day to implement food safety measures. We also encourage consumers to promote food safety by following safe handling and cooking practices as they fire up for grilling season.”