Contact: Nick Alexander or Cheryl Toner; (202) 296-6540

IFIC’s fifth survey on U.S. consumer attitudes toward food biotechnology indicates consumers are paying attention to the biotechnology issue—or are they?

The new survey, conducted January 19-21, 2001 by Wirthlin Worldwide, includes a few new questions to determine how consumers consider food biotechnology in context with other food safety issues. Fall 2000 media coverage focused on the recall of products containing biotech corn not yet approved for food use and the resulting discussions of regulatory decisions.

How did this media coverage of a corn product recall affect consumer knowledge and attitudes? More consumers correctly identify corn products as foods currently in the supermarket that have been produced using biotechnology, although overall awareness of the presence of biotech foods in grocery stores has actually decreased since May 2000. Only 1 in 4 consumers has heard anything about recalls of foods produced through biotechnology. When StarLink is named, awareness increases to almost half of consumers, yet 95% state that they have not taken any action in the last few months based on concerns regarding biotech foods.

Consumers may have mixed feelings on the labeling issue. When asked, unaided, to identify what information is currently not on food labels that they would like to see added, 74% say "nothing” and only 2% mention "genetically altered". Furthermore, when the current labeling policy is presented to consumers, 70% remain supportive of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy. The survey also presented consumers with the critics' desire to label all foods produced through biotechnology even if the safety and nutritional content are unchanged. When given the critics' view, more than half of consumers agree with them and just over one-third maintain the FDA position. This question represents the most significant shift in the survey, perhaps the result of the Starlink episode. However, when consumers were presented with information resource alternatives to the food label in the next question, 75% affirm that information should be provided through toll-free numbers, brochures, and Web sites "instead of labeling".

Consumers continue to respond positively to the benefits of biotechnology for the foods they eat. More consumers are likely to buy foods enhanced to taste better or fresher (58% versus 54% last year), to contain less saturated fat (46% versus 40%, with 33% stating that this benefit would have no effect on their purchasing decision). And consumer acceptance of foods enhanced to require fewer pesticides has remained stable at 70%.

For the first time since IFIC began its surveys, the number of Americans expecting to benefit from biotechnology in the future increased. Sixty-four percent expect to benefit from biotechnology within the next 5 years. This finding is consistent with a newly released FDA focus group report that also found consumers “remained open-minded and open to future experience with foods produced by biotechnology.” While 79% of those in 1997 expected to benefit, the trend declined to a low of 59% in May 2000 but now appears to be turning upward. ### International Food Information Council (IFIC) is a nonprofit organization that communicates sound science-based information on food safety and nutrition topics to health professionals, journalists, government officials and consumers. IFIC’s programs are supported by the broad-based food, beverage and agricultural industries. IFIC materials can be found online at http://ific.org

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