Introduction: Food safety is essential for public health; however, despite legal requirements, serious violations continue to occur within the food supply chain. Whistleblowing represents an important mechanism for detecting such irregularities. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes toward whistleblowing among students enrolled in higher education programs whose graduates are most likely to occupy positions responsible for ensuring food safety and to compare the results according to study program and year of study. Methods: The theoretical part of the study was based on a systematic literature review. The empirical part consisted of a survey conducted among 181 students enrolled in sanitary engineering, food science and/or nutrition, veterinary medicine, and animal science programs. The study examined knowledge of whistleblowing and factors influencing the intention to report irregularities. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square and Mann Whitney U statistical tests test. Results: Knowledge of the concept of whistleblowing was relatively low. Overall, 43.1% of participants reported having heard of whistleblowing, whereas only 11.7% were familiar with the concept in the context of the food industry. The effectiveness of existing reporting mechanisms was rated as moderate. Most participants (68.3%) indicated that they would report an irregularity, but only anonymously. No statistically significant differences were found between study programs, years of study, or gender; therefore, hypotheses were not confirmed. Discussion and Conclusion: The results indicate low awareness of whistleblowing and related legislation, as well as limited trust in reporting systems, which may reduce the likelihood of timely identification and reporting of irregularities in practice. The strong preference for anonymous reporting highlights the need to strengthen trust in reporting mechanisms. The findings emphasize the importance of systematically integrating whistleblowing, ethics, and legal aspects into educational curricula and establishing accessible and trustworthy reporting channels within organizations.
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