According to data from a special survey on food safety, the European Union (EU) average interest in the topic was 72%, with Portugal’s trust in market products being surpassed only by Sweden (61%), and significantly above the EU average (41%).
Conversely, cost is the most influential factor in Portuguese food purchasing decisions, with 68% of respondents opting for this reason, surpassing the EU average of 60%. It ranks as the fifth highest, with price being the most selected criterion in 20 of the 27 member states, where respondents could choose three options including taste, origin, safety, and nutritional content.
When asked about the main risks associated with food, the majority of Portuguese (34%) identified the presence of chemical contaminants, compared to 28% across the EU.
Mirroring this, 72% of Portuguese respondents expressed concern about pesticide residues in food, while 71% of the EU average indicated additives like color, flavor, and preservatives.
The presence of pesticides in food is the top concern for the Portuguese (52%, EU 39%), and the preferred option for better eating is reducing fats (57%), while the EU preference is consuming more fruits and vegetables (53%).
Portuguese respondents (85%, EU 89%) agree that environmental aspects impact health, and 83% (EU 86%) are worried about the consequences of crop conditions.
Animal welfare affects human health for 85% of Portuguese respondents (79% EU-wide).
Television is the main source of information on food safety in Portugal (75%, EU 55%), the highest rate among the 27 member states.
Portugal ranks second in trusting doctors as a reliable source of information on food risks (95%), alongside Spain and Sweden, behind Finland. Romania presents the lowest rate (76%), with the EU average at 90%.
A majority of 91% of Portuguese people (EU 84%) also trust public and university researchers, and 87% (EU 82%) trust information from consumer organizations.
Farmers are trusted by 92% of respondents in Portugal, the second-highest percentage after Finland at 94%, ten percentage points above the European average.
National authorities are considered reliable by 87% of respondents (EU 70%) and European authorities by the same percentage (EU 69%).
In Portugal, 1,037 interviews were conducted between March 26 and April 16.
The European Food Safety Authority publishes the food safety survey every three years.
