https://www.naturalnews.com/042305_GM_foods_consumer_resistance_public_attitude.html
(NaturalNews) While an Australian scientist from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has been quoted saying that the heat has gone out of the genetically modified food debate and that people are now willing to eat GM food, particularly if they understand why the crop has been modified, statistics from public surveys around the world say otherwise.
It would appear that, although pro-GM scientists, reporters and politicians continue to manipulate figures and create excuses for consumers being uneasy about genetically modified foods, polls continue to indicate that public opinion still leans very heavily toward a "No GMO" stance.
According to
ABC News, in the USA, only slightly over one third of the population believes that genetically modified foods are safe to eat, with
fifty two percent believing that they are
unsafe and thirteen percent remaining unsure. Surveys in Australia and Europe have resulted in similar figures, with
seventy five percent of Australian consumers having said that they would have concerns about eating GM foods, and
seventy percent of those surveyed in European countries agreeing that GM food is fundamentally unnatural;
only twenty one percent of Europeans believe that genetically modified foods are safe to eat.
Statistics also reveal that attitudes toward genetically modified foods varies with age, sex and education level. Those who are more likely to believe that GM
foods are
unsafe include women, older people, those who are more educated and those from a scientific background.
The pro-GM lobby has stated that the fact that many people still buy foods even when GM ingredients are listed on labels indicates that consumers aren't really that concerned, assuming that people are in fact more accepting of
GM foods than they might imply when asked outright; however, studies have also revealed that most people don't actually read ingredient labels on the products they buy
even when they say they do.
It would appear that human beings instinctively understand that the genetic modification of
food is unnatural. Almost twenty years after the first GM crop was approved for sale, consumers continue to feel that this technology is potentially dangerous. Many view it as an experiment that is not needed: it is dangerous and is purely about profits for biotech companies that seem hell bent on forcing it down the throats of a population that does not want it. But as much as these companies and their supporters try to change public opinion, it is obvious that most people still don't want GM foods, and public attitude remains unchanged.
Sources for this article include:http://www.innovation.gov.auhttp://abcnews.go.comhttp://www.abc.net.auhttp://www.huffingtonpost.comhttp://ec.europa.euhttp://healthland.time.comhttp://science.naturalnews.comAbout the author:Sue Woledge is a natural therapist, writer and the owner of
www.ahealthymeal.com and
here.
Receive Our Free Email Newsletter
Get independent news alerts on natural cures, food lab tests, cannabis medicine, science, robotics, drones, privacy and more.
Take Action: Support Natural News by linking to this article from your website
Permalink to this article:
Embed article link: (copy HTML code below):
Reprinting this article:
Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.
Follow Natural News on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and Pinterest