As concern over rising food prices continues to be an issue for consumers, Canadian farmers are viewed as the most trusted among the supply-chain stakeholders involved with putting food on their plates, with major grocery store chains ranked the least trusted.

This is one of the key findings of the first Canadian Food Sentiment Index, a comprehensive report issued in October by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax. The study quantifies and ranks Canadians’ perceptions and attitudes towards food-related issues, including affordability, food security and consumer trust.

The report, based on input from more than 3,000 respondents across the country, “provides a critical look at how Canadians feel about the rising costs of food and their evolving behaviours in response to economic pressures,” Dalhousie officials explained.

According to the study, Canadian farmers receive the highest trust score of 3.69, on a scale of 5, a score the study’s authors said indicates “that Canadians have strong confidence in farmers to act in their best interests regarding food.”

In contrast, independent grocers and major grocery chains received the lowest trust scores, 2.89 and 2.8, respectively. This suggests, the report claims, “that Canadians are less confident in retailers, particularly major grocery chains, to act in their best interest regarding food.

The authors attribute this poor perception to price increases, corporate practices or insufficient support for local food systems.

Other food-chain players ranked in the survey included two government agencies – Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The authors said this suggests the public view these government bodies play an “crucial role in  ensuring food safety and regulations.”

Food manufacturers ranked in the middle of the trust spectrum with a ranking of 3.26 on a scale of 5, indicating consumers view them with “skepticism, likely driven by concerns over food production practices or corporate motives.”