010560 Consumers Undecided on Genetically Modified Food

Columbus, OH - When it comes to eating genetically modified foods and other products, for most U.S. consumers the jury is still out according to just released findings.

In a study conducted by BIGresearch in April, 5,638 consumers exhibited the following response to questions regarding genetically modified food:

"Would you eat genetically modified food products?"

Yes 23.0%; No 30.1%; Undecided 46.9%.

Further analysis on this question showed women to be decisively more undecided than men, 53.1% to 39.1%. It was noted that consumers whose education is college and post college graduate are evenly split between yes, no and undecided.

"Do you believe genetically engineered food is safe to eat?"

Yes 23.5%; No 21.6%; Undecided 54.9%.

Further analysis on this question showed women to again be more undecided than men, 62.5% to 46.4%.

It was noted on both of these questions that consumers whose education is college and post college graduate are evenly split between yes no and undecided.

“The large percentage of undecided individuals represents an opportunity for providing information to the general public on the social, legal, and ethical issues associated with genetically modified foods. Shortly, The Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences will initiate a research effort to evaluate the information desired and needed by the public not only on genetically modified plants and animals, but on other social issues such as water quality, animal rights, livestock odors, waste disposal, foreign ownership of farms and radiated foods”, said William Flinn, Ph.D., President Emeritus of MUCIA (A consortium of the Big 10 Universities.) and a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

It was also found that on a question regarding whether or not the U.S. Government should support human genetic engineering that 42.0% of consumers responded as undecided with women slightly more undecided 44.8% to 37.8%.

“Based upon preliminary results, the verdict is still out on the likelihood of the U.S. public consuming genetically modified foods. This global controversy is in need of more research and analysis to enable the public, government and business sectors to understand its policy ramifications”, said Joe Pilotta, Ph.D., Vice President of BIGresearch.

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