title: Consumer attitudes towards genetically modified foods.
abstract: The present study reports attitudes towards genetically modified (GM) foods among Swedish consumers. A random nation-wide sample of 2,000 addressees, aged 18-65 years, were mailed a questionnaire and 786 (39%) responded. Most of these consumers were rather negative about GM foods. However, males, younger respondents and those with higher level of education were more positive than were females, older respondents and those with lower level of education. A majority of the consumers had moral and ethical doubts about eating GM foods and did not perceive attributes like better taste or lower price beneficial enough to persuade them to purchase GM foods. However, tangible benefits, like being better for the environment or healthier, seemed to increase willingness to purchase GM foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Section of Caring Sciences, University of Uppsala, Uppsala Science Park, S-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden. maria.magnusson@pubcare.uu.se
authors.forename: Maria K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.forename: Ulla-Kaisa
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Koivisto Hursti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D030841:Food, Genetically Modified; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden