About three-quarters of Americans plan to don an apron and grab a spatula to grill their favorite steaks, burgers or chicken this year, but can consumers trust that their food is safe as grilling season kicks into high gear?  Ninety-four percent of American say yes, and that’s good news as Americans enter the heavy grilling months of summer.

Cargill’s latest "Feed4Thought" survey, which polled more than 1,000 people in the U.S. in April 2018, found that 94% say they trust that the meat they buy for grilling is safe to eat. The survey also found that nearly 80% believe food producers are taking the necessary steps to ensure that meat is safe for grilling. Additionally, 87% believe 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,” said Chuck Warta, president of Cargill Premix & 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.”

This is why Cargill continues to invest in research, learning how the health and well-being of animals can positively affect food safety, the company said.

Additional results from the "Feed4Thought" survey include:

“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,” Cargill Protein president Brian Sikes said. “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.”