Black Americans have doubts about the U.S. food system, new Word In Black survey finds

Almost three out of four respondents to a new Word In Black survey said prices for healthy foods are too high, and just over 60% said they don’t trust that the food they buy is safe.

Black Americans are intensely aware of the connection between food and health but face economic and structural barriers that limit what they can actually put on the table, according to a new report from Word In Black’s Insights and Research Division. The report, “At The Table: Food and Health In Our Community,” published Sept. 3, found that Black Americans have major concerns about the nation’s food safety and their ability to access healthy food choices at prices they can afford.

Among the starkest findings, six in 10 respondents said they don’t trust that the food they buy in grocery stores is safe, and rising grocery prices are pushing families toward cheaper, less nutritious options.

“What we found is a community that knows exactly what it needs to eat well and simply cannot get there on the current terms,” said Christa Mahlobo, Ph.D., insights and research director for Word In Black. Mahlobo is a research scientist who works independently from the newsroom.

When it comes to healthier eating, Mahlobo said, “the barrier isn’t awareness. It’s price, proximity, and a food system that too often asks Black families to choose between what they can afford and what will keep them healthy.”

Systemic inflation and the erosion of trust

The report draws on a survey of 1,249 Black Americans conducted between April 22 and June 8, 2026. Respondents were readers of Word In Black and 10 partner publishers, longtime Black news outlets operating nationwide. Roughly one-third have postgraduate or professional degrees, and the largest income group reported earning $100,000 or more annually.

Roughly three out of four respondents said prices for healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables need to be lowered. Forty-two percent want more grocery stores in their neighborhoods, while 38% want more nutrition education. More than 60% reported concerns about the nation’s food safety, reflecting a broader erosion of confidence in the American food system. In July, a Quinnipiac University poll of likely voters found 55% had little or no confidence in the government’s oversight of food safety, and a KFF survey found less than half of voters approve of the Trump administration’s handling of food policy. The findings come as news headlines have been filled with weekly reports of food recalls due to salmonella and E. coli, as well as a continuing cyclospora outbreak that has killed two people and sickened more than 11,000.

While many respondents did not report being food insecure, the survey found rising grocery prices are forcing difficult trade-offs. Respondents described “trading down,” swapping higher-priced foods or brands for cheaper alternatives such as store brands or substituting chicken for steak. They also look for manager’s specials, use coupons and mobile apps for savings, and some rely on local food pantries. The most recent government figures estimate it’s possible to meet federal fruit and vegetable recommendations for roughly $2.50 to $3 per day, but that report, using data from 2022, appears out of step with current conditions.

A noticeable segment of respondents said they’ve begun buying fewer fresh fruits, vegetables or meat, bypassing organic foods, and are more willing to accept lower-quality food or skip healthier options altogether. One respondent described her mindset while grocery shopping: “Put it back or find a cheaper unhealthy version.” The report warns this practice could signal a widening gap in Black Americans’ access to healthy food, one that appears to be affecting the larger population as well. A Pew Research Center survey conducted last year found 90% of U.S. adults said healthy food has gotten more expensive in recent years, and 77% of lower-income adults said it’s now harder to eat healthier.

Cultural heritage and structural reform

Price also shapes where people shop. Two in five respondents said reasonably priced food is the most important factor in choosing a grocery store, ahead of taste, convenience and healthfulness, a reversal of national trends where taste has led food purchases since 2006. The survey also found it’s common for respondents to eat out, especially among younger adults, with 41% of those aged 18 to 34 saying they eat at restaurants three or more times a week, compared with older respondents.

The survey found Black Americans remain strongly tied to their food heritage. Roughly 32% said their food knowledge came from how they were raised, while 29% said it was shaped by their own research as adults. About 47% said they try to balance traditional foods with healthier choices, a quarter still eat mostly the same foods they grew up with, and 46% strongly agreed that food in the U.S. contributes to diet-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

When grading the healthfulness of their own diets, a little more than half of respondents gave themselves a B, and nine in 10 agreed that what they eat affects their mental and emotional well-being. Self-reported diet grades tracked closely with respondents’ impressions of their overall health, with more than 85% of those who gave their diet an A also rating their general health as excellent or very good.

Awareness of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again program remained low among respondents, with nearly half saying they’d heard little or nothing about the updated federal guidelines. Still, 73% said a doctor, nutritionist or other caregiver had spoken with them about their diet or eating habits.

Asked what would help them eat healthier, respondents pointed to structural changes: lower prices for fresh foods, more grocery stores in their neighborhoods, and more public education about nutrition. The report calls on policymakers, community health organizations and food retailers to expand access to healthy foods through subsidies, invest in culturally relevant nutrition programs, and partner with trusted community leaders to deliver health education where Black Americans already live, work, worship and gather.

“At The Table: Food and Health In Our Community” was produced by the Word In Black Insights and Research Division, which launched in 2025 with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Knight Foundation.

This article appeared first in Word in Black. It has been edited for length. For the original, visit https://wordinblack.com/2026/09/black-americans-have-doubts-about-the-u-s-food-system-new-word-in-black-survey-finds/.