Measuring Public Attitude of Genetically Modified Foods in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Ching-Yi Wang, 王晴怡
• Other Authors: Charles V. Trappey
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2001
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/06447246777251908793

碩士 === 國立交通大學 === 經營管理研究所 === 89 === Genetically modified foods have arisen many controversies in European and America. In Taiwan, public still has low awareness of these foods, but we can see food manufacturers label their foods as non-GM. The exposure information content will influence public attitude along with availability of other relevant reports. Public attitude will decide the direction of development of genetic engineering. The aim of this study is to understand public attitude formulation towards the new product, genetically modified foods. Based on the previous literature, Hoban, Woodrum and Czaja (1992) proposed awareness and the results indicated that people with low awareness have opposed attitude toward genetic engineering on food and agriculture. This study proposed prior exposure information content, a type of awareness, and interested in its influence on attitude. The results indicated that gender, prior exposure information content, and age are three predictors of attitude formulation. Therefore, we can conclude that (1) women have more opposed attitude than men have, (2) people with net positive prior exposure information content have greater positive attitude, (3) the young have greater positive attitude than the elder. All of these findings give important application. Women are the main consumers consuming foods; therefore, food manufacturers should pay attention on this result and their acceptability of genetically modified foods. While exposure information content become more and more available, public attitude will change; therefore, these transmitting information should be neutral to provide consumers to make subjective decisions. The young will be the major decision makers in the future. They have positive attitude may due to environmental consideration. Using genetic engineering may decrease the use of agriculture chemicals. Environmental preservation may be the most persuasive reason to persuade public to accept the genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods cover many fields, including education, communication, and label. Education and communication will provide public knowledge to participate, and interact effectively. Public should be given rights to do consuming choice by labeling genetically modified foods.