Food safety fears transform consumer choices

But despite this, he stressed many food companies are already conducting checks on their overseas customers, so as to ensure they are safe. Thus, consumers should not automatically assume that just because a food comes from a particular country, it is unsafe.

Deloitte's survey

The survey polled a nationally representative sample of 1,110 consumers.

It found that 57 percent of respondents stopped consuming a certain product following a food scare, and nearly three-quarters believe the number of food-related recalls has increase in the past year.

Even more (76 percent) said they are more concerned about the foods they eat than they were five years ago.

The product that most worried consumers is beef, with 78 percent of respondents expressing concern about the meat. Chicken recalls have also prompted concern, with 67 percent saying they felt unease about it.

The survey found that 53 percent were cautious about fruit and vegetables because of recalls, and the same number remained apprehensive about dairy products.

Continuing food recalls and decreasing consumer confidence has prompted a proposed revamp of the US food safety system.