An Investigation Of Cognition,Attitude And Behavior On Genetically Modified Food Among College Students In A Certain Area Of Northern Henan Province

Background Genetically modified crops have been grown commercially for more than two decades.Globally,genetically modified crops have unprecedented developed and improved in planting types and planting areas due to its outstanding advantages in increasing grain yield,improving crop nutrition and huge social and economic benefits.However,the safety of genetically modified foods,especially their impact on humans and the environment,has raised concerns.At present,genetically modified food has entered thousands of households,and it is closely related to human health.Consumers’ attitude towards genetically modified food would be one of the important factors affecting its development.College students,as a special consumer group,have the characteristics of high education,broad vision,quick to accept new things and great influence on the people around.Therefore,this study took a city in northern of Henan province as an example to investigate the cognition,attitude and acceptance willingness of local college students towards genetically modified food.Objective To understand the current situation of cognition,attitude and behavior of genetically modified food among college students in the north of Henan province.To explore the influencing factors of college students’ cognition,attitude and behavior on genetically modified.Some suggestions for the healthy development of genetically modified food were put forward.Methods This study used the stratified sampling method.The investigators were divided into 6 stratification based on the grade which from the freshman to the senior.In order to make the sample more representative and comparable,we assume that the number of subjects in each layer is equal and the ratio of male and female in each layer is equal.A total of 1,250 college students from three universities in the north of Henan province were selected as research objects.The self-designed questionnaire was used for the survey,which mainly contained the basic information about the college students,the cognitive,attitude and behavior of the gen genetically modified food.The investigators were trained professionally.EpiData3.1 was used for data entry,and SPSS20.0 software package was used for statistical analysis.Results 1.Cognition of genetically modified food in college students College students’ understanding of genetically modified food was 61.1%(719 people).College students of different universities,gender,major,grade,income and expenditure had different levels of understanding of genetically modified food,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).2.Attitudes of genetically modified food in college students College students show a "neutral" attitude towards genetically modified food,and the different university,gender,grade and major was the influencing factors.College students in the advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified food were affirmed.Most of college students hold the “natural” attitude about genetically modified food entering their dining tables.93.5% of college students believed that genetically modified food sign should be labeled with genetically modified food.When the genetically modified foods are not labeled with the sign,973 people(82.7%)said that their right to know and independent choice are violated.3.Behavior of genetically modified food in college students 90.4% of college students said they seldom eat or are not clear about whether they eat genetically modified food and students had the different grade with different level of buying and eating genetically modified food.When buying food,74.5% of college students hardly looked at or occasionally looked at the genetically modified food labeling,this is contrary to another result that the 76.3% of college students who think that genetically modified food labeling affects their purchase of genetically modified food.Different colleges,major and spending are the factors that influence college students to check food labels when buy food.College students mainly learn about genetically modified food through Internet new media such as computers and mobile phones.4.College students’ willingness to purchase genetically modified food and its influencing factors When the price is equal between the genetically modified food and traditional food,814 people(69.2%)choose to buy traditional food and the different universities,gender,grade and incoming were the influencing factors.When the price of genetically modified food is reduced by 20%～30%,528 people(64.9%)choose to buy genetically modified food.College students showed a greater willingness to buy genetically modified foods if their nutrition be improved.College students’ cognition and attitude towards genetically modified food have an impact on their purchase intention.The main factors influencing college students’ purchase of genetically modified food are safety(1,027 people,87.3%),nutritional value(780 people,66.3%)and price(480 people,40.8%).Conclusion 1.College students had relatively higher awareness of genetically modified food,and the different universities,gender,grade,major,incoming and spending were the influencing factors.2.College students had a positive attitude towards genetically modified food,and the different universities,gender,grade and major were the influencing factors.3.College students tend to be conservative in their behaviors towards genetically modified food,and their cognition,attitude and purchase intention had an influence on them.4.Safety,nutritional value and price were the important factors affecting the development of genetically modified food.