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A new survey released at last week's international agricultural
biotechnology conference in Toronto, Canada, found that at least
half of consumers in seven of eight countries polled view foods
containing biotech ingredients negatively. Conducted by the Angus
Reid Group Worldwide, the survey questioned a total of 5,000
consumers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the
United Kingdom and the United States about their perceptions about
biotech foods. According to the study, more than half of consumers
in Japan, France, Germany, Australia and Canada view biotech foods
from a health and safety perspective, as do 44 percent of U.S. and
39 percent of British consumers surveyed. Only in Brazil, where the
survey authors said awareness of the issue is the lowest among
countries surveyed, do consumers view biotech foods as a science and
technology issue.
This survey, contrary to others released recently, found that 51
percent of U.S. consumers had a negative view toward biotechnology.
That compares to 45 percent in 1998. The survey found consumer
attitudes toward biotechnology most negative in Japan (82 percent),
Germany (73 percent) and France (71 percent). Fifty-nine percent of
Canadians surveyed expressed a negative view, compared to 45 percent
two years ago.
Most consumers surveyed indicated the principal benefits or
advantages of biotech foods was production-related (31 percent),
followed by better quality foods (15 percent) and less pesticide use
(15 percent). Between 44-58 percent of consumers surveyed, depending
on the country, said they still understand only "a little"
about foods containing biotech ingredients.
"At this point in the debate, consumers aren't yet convinced
that genetically altered foods represent scientific
advancement," said Joanna Karman, managing director of the
Angus Reid Group's agri-foods division and co-author of the report.
"They simply haven't made that leap yet. Most believe this is
about health and safety. That's where we believe the debate should
focus based on what consumers are telling us."
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