Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
While opinion surveys give some indication of whether or not consumers
are concerned about foods containing GE ingredients, they give little indica-
tion of the level of concern. Some researchers have attempted to quantify this
concern through studies in which consumers are asked how much they would
be willing to pay for foods made with GE ingredients, and for foods without
GE ingredients. Researchers then use these data to measure whether or not
there is a difference between these two hypothetical prices.
In most of these studies (table 5), consumers indicated that they were
willing to pay more on average for GE-free foods or to avoid foods containing
GE ingredients. However, in many of the studies, at least some consumers did
not require a discount to buy foods containing GE ingredients, while some
expressed that they would not be willing to buy foods containing GE
ingredients at all.
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Some respondents were willing to pay more for certain
characteristics, such as improved nutrition and environmental benefits (Li et
al., 2001; Lusk, 2003, Bocaletti and Moro, 2000).
Table 4. Surveys on Consumer Perceptions
of Foods Containing GE Ingredients
Country/
Population
Surveyed by
Details
United States
Pew Initiative/
Mellman Group,
2003, 2004
27 percent favor introduction of GE foods;47 percent
oppose. However, 64 percent disagree with the
statement, “genetically modified foods should not be
allowed to be sold even if the Food and Drug
Administration believes they are safe,” and 28 percent
feel that those foods should not be allowed, even if the
FDA feels they are safe.
United States
Gallup, 2001
52 percent support the application of biotechnology; 38
percent oppose the use of biotechnology in food
production.
United States
Hallman, 2004
47 percent approved or leaned toward approval of the
use of GE to make plant-based foods, 41 percent
disapproved or leaned toward disapproval, and 12
percent were unsure.
United States
IFIC, 2005
50 percent said likely to buy and 45 percent said not
likely to buy GE produce modified to taste better or
fresher;64 percent said likely to buy and 32 percent said
not likely to buy GE produce modified to require fewer
pesticide applications.
Beijing, China
Hu and Chen,
2004
67 percent were concerned about biotechnology.
Nanjing, China
Zhong et al.,
2002
40 percent would buy GE foods;17 percent would not;
34 percent don't know.
