The measure of how satisfied American consumers are with food, pet food and other necessities has stagnated, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The ACSI is apparently stuck in neutral for the third quarter of 2011, yielding an unchanged 75.7 on a 0-to-100-point scale. ACSI says the lackluster performance mirrors the economy and frail markets. Where numbers are down doesn’t necessarily mean that consumers are having issues with quality; cost increases have been the typical reason for slipping satisfaction.

Condiment purveyor Heinz, however, is doing a good job at pleasing its customers and has been leading the food industry for 12 years in consumer satisfaction. This year, according to ACSI, satisfaction with the company’s food products rose 1 percent to 89 on the ACSI scale. The processor rated number one among ACSI’s 225-plus measured food companies. Food manufacturing as a whole is stalled at 81, following last year’s decline in the face of rising food costs.