Public acceptance for GM food and the reasons behind

Abstract

Objective: There is concern about the extent to which consumers will accept genetically modified (GM) foods in China. Existing studies are mostly inconsistent and sometimes confusing. Although China produced and consumed the biggest amount of GM crops and other derived products, there were only limited studies about Chinese public acceptance for GM foods. This review was aimed to explore the public acceptance for GM food in China and reasons for acceptance or against for GM food.

Methods: Literature were retrieved from Google Scholar, Pubmed and CNKI using key words of "genetically modified food" ( OR "GM food" OR "GMO Food" OR "GM foods") combined with "acceptance" (OR “attitude” OR “willingness to buy” ). Consumers' knowledge and understanding about GM food, attitudes and acceptance for GM food as well as factors or reasons associated with their attitudes or acceptance were synthesized.

Result: Of 1000 literature retrieved from the specified data sources, 20 were eligible to be included in this study. Generally, knowledge and understanding of GM food was limited among Chinese consumers. However, acceptance for GM food were generally positive among the Chinese consumers, around 60%-80% according to the studies included in this review. Factors associated with acceptance for GM food included price of GM food, respondents' demographics, government attitudes and media coverage.

Conclusion: The Chinese government should better communicate the risk and benefits associated GM food to improve acceptance of GM food. Communication should target subgroups of consumers to improve their knowledge and perceived benefits of GM food. Labeling of GM food should also be implemented in China to help the consumers to make a better choice.