The effects of Italian and US consumers' risk perceptions, knowledge and awareness of GM foods, and trust in government agencies on willingness to buy GM foods is examined. Results indicated that effects of risk perception of GM foods to human health and the environment are similar between urban consumers in Italy and the United States. However, Italian consumers were found to be more sensitive to the potential risks that GM foods may pose to human health and the environment, relative to the US consumer. In general, Italians were also less likely to purchase GM foods relative to US consumers. ; Includes bibliographical references
In the growing body of literature concerning consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods, there are significant differences in conclusions about the impact of knowledge on such acceptance. One potential explanation for these differences is the manner in which knowledge is measured. This paper first provides a review of the literature on objective and subjective knowledge, and reviews previous studies investigating the relationship between knowledge and acceptance of GM foods. Next, the goal of this study is to differentiate and examine the impact of both subjective and objective knowledge related to acceptance of genetically modified foods. Data from surveys collected in the United States, England, and France is used. Our findings suggest that knowledge should not be viewed as a unidimensional construct, and the way in which knowledge is measured significantly impacts the relationship with consumers' willingness to accept GM foods. ; This research was partially funded by USDA-IFAFS grant #00-52100-9620 ; Includes bibliographical references
The stated benefits and perceived risks of genetic modification (GM) cover very diverse issues, such as food safety, world food security, and the environment, that may differentially affect consumer acceptance. In this research, we hypothesize that consumers perceive up to eight dimensions: risks to business (farmers, agribusiness, etc.), benefits to business, risks and benefits to the environment, risks and benefits to the developing world, and risks and benefits to self and family. Moral concerns are also recognized. Using data collected in 2002 in the United States, France, and the UK, we investigate these different dimensions. Second, we analyze the extent to which the dimensions of risk-benefit perceptions can be explained by general attitudes widely used to explain food purchase behavior (such as general attitude to the environment, to technology, etc.), as well as by perceived knowledge of GM, level of education, and trust in various sources of information. In all locations, the majority of consumers only perceive a medium level of risk from GM products. Attitude to technology is the most important attitude variable -- those with a positive attitude to technology in general also have a positive attitude to GM technology. More Americans than Europeans fall into this category. Those who trust government and the food industry tend to think GM technology is less risky, whereas those who trust activists believe the opposite. Americans are more trusting of the former, Europeans of the latter. Level of education is positively associated with benefit perceptions and negatively associated with moral concerns. Location continues to play a limited independent role in explaining perceptions even after these factors have been taken into account. ; This research was funded by USDAIFAFS grant #52100-9620. ; Includes bibliographical references
