Analysis
By Gary Langer
June 19
With safety concerns widespread, Americans almost unanimously favor
mandatory labels on genetically modified foods. And most say they'd use
those labels to avoid the food.
Barely more than a third of the public believes that genetically
modified foods are safe to eat. Instead 52 percent believe such foods
are unsafe, and an additional 13 percent are unsure about them. That's
broad doubt on the very basic issue of food safety.
Nearly everyone, moreover — 93 percent — says the federal government
should require labels on food saying whether it's been genetically
modified, or "bio-engineered" (this poll used both phrases). Such
near-unanimity in public opinion is rare.
Fifty-seven percent also say they'd be less likely to buy foods labeled
as genetically modified. That puts the food industry in a quandary: By
meeting consumer demand for labeling, it would be steering business away
from its genetically modified products.
The image problem of genetically modified food is underscored by
contrast to organic foods. While only five percent of Americans say
they'd be more likely to buy a food labeled as genetically modified, 52
percent say they'd be more likely to buy food that's labeled as having
been raised organically.
Genetically modified foods are particularly unpopular among women,
another problem for food producers since so many women do the family
shopping.
Sixty-two percent of women think genetically modified foods are unsafe
to eat, a view that's shared by far fewer men, 40 percent. Indeed a
plurality of men think these foods are safe, while women disagree by
better than 2-1.
Similarly, while 49 percent of men say they'd be less likely to buy food
labeled as genetically modified, that jumps to 65 percent of women.
(Similar numbers of women and men say they're more likely to buy organic
foods.)
There's also a distinction by age; people under 45 are about 10 points
more likely than their elders to think genetically modified foods are
safe to eat. But a bare majority of young adults still calls genetically
modified foods unsafe.
There's also a political difference. Republicans divide evenly on
whether genetically modified foods are safe or unsafe. Independents rate
them unsafe by a 20-point margin; Democrats, by a 26-point margin.
What's at Issue
This poll, conducted for ABCNEWS.com by telephone among a random sample
of adults across the country, described genetic engineering as a process
by which "scientists can change the genes in some food crops and farm
animals to make them grow faster or bigger and be more resistant to
bugs, weeds and disease." Organic foods were described as raised
"without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers or feed additives."
Genetic modification of foods has been in development since the 1980s,
inciting heated argument pro and con. A variety of genetically modified
crops has been approved by the FDA for general use, and it's reviewing
an application to market genetically modified fish.
The FDA has said labeling isn't necessary because there's no evidence
genetic engineering changes a food's quality, safety, "or any other
attribute." In a report late last year, the American Medical Association
also said there was "no scientific justification for special labeling
of genetically modified foods, as a class."
Starlink, a genetically modified corn that is approved for use in animal
feed but not for human consumption, made its way into human foods last
year. The government reported last week that Starlink did not cause
allergic reactions in people who reported health problems after eating
it.
Methodology
This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone June 13-17, among a
random national sample of 1,024 adults. The results have a three-point
margin of error. Sampling, data collection and tabulation by TNS
Intersearch of Horsham, Pa.
Previous ABCNEWS polls can be found in our Poll Vault.
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