Half of EU citizens either ignore media reports about food issues or they worry but do not change their eating habits, a survey suggests.
The Eurobarometer report for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found, however, that there was no single, widespread concern about food-related risks.
A representative sample of about 27,000 people aged 15 and over across the 27 member states were questioned for the survey.
The economic crisis (20 per cent) and environmental pollution (18 per cent) were ranked more highly as risks very likely to affect their lives than food-related problems (11 per cent).
About one in three people claimed to avoid a food mentioned in a news story for a while (35 per cent for food safety reasons and 31 per cent for diet and health reasons).
Slightly more people expressed worry about the news they hear on food issues today, compared to the last survey five years ago (26 per cent compared to 23 per cent in 2005).
But just 11 per cent of people in the current survey claimed to have permanently changed their eating habits as a reaction to information on food safety compared to 16 per cent in 2005.
Pesticide residues in fruit, vegetables or cereals was the overall highest concern in twelve member states. This issue was of most concern in Greece (91 per cent); Lithuania (88 per cent), Italy (85 per cent), Luxembourg (85 per cent), Bulgaria (84 per cent), Hungary (84 per cent), France (80 per cent), Malta (77 per cent), Slovenia (75 per cent), Germany (75 per cent), Belgium (72 per cent) and Austria (67 cent) .
Ireland was one of the eight countries where the quality and freshness of food attracted the highest level of concern, with some 66 per cent of respondents expressing worry about the issue.
The others were Latvia (94 per cent), Lithuania (88 per cent) and Estonia 74 per cent.
Spain (80 per cent) and Portugal (86 per cent) as well as Denmark (77 per cent, Malta (77 per cent).
Geographical divides were found across member states with regard to the issue of greatest concern to citizens.
The greatest concern for the welfare of farmed animals was from citizens of Sweden (74 per cent), Finland (66 per cent) and Britain (67 per cent).
In Bulgaria, the Czech republic and Slovakia, the issue of food poisoning from bacteria such as salmonella in eggs or listeria in cheese was the greatest concern, at 84 per cent, 77 per cent and 72 per cent respectively.
Concern about additives such as colours, preservatives or flavouring used in food or drinks were highest in Poland (79 per cent) and Romania (70 per cent). The two countries where concern about residues such as antibiotics or hormones in meat was greatest were Cyprus (92 per cent) and the Netherlands (63 per cent).
In France, some 80 per cent of respondents expressed worry about pollutants such as mercury, the same level of worry registered for pesticide residues.
Respondents in Austria were equally concerned about pesticides and genetically modified organisms, which were both at 67 per cent.