Research On Cognition Of Genetically Modified Food Among Consumers In Shijiazhuang

Objective: Consumer cognition of genetically modified(GM)foods will be a crucial factor influencing the development of GM foods.Taking Shijiazhuang city for example,this paper investigated a number of local supermarkets,with the purposes of grasping the current consumer cognition and consumer behavior of GM foods;and investigating the current consumption status of GM foods in the market,thereby providing reference for the enhancement of common sense and legal improvement on GM foods and for the effective maintenance of safe and environmental-friendly consumption concept,so as to promote better and faster development of GM foods market.Methods: On-side observation,questionnaires and random interviews were mainly used in this research.There are more than 50 large supermarkets in Shijiazhuang,by means of random sampling to select the six supermarkets(Tiankelong Supermarket on Zhongshan Road,North supermarket,Xianglong Tai supermarket on the Red Flag street,Yonghui supermarket on the Weiming street,Bao Longcang Supermarket on Zhonghua Avenue and Wal-Mart Supermarket in Enjoy City)to perform the field research.Field observation was mainly on labeling situation and language standards of labeling languages of GM foods and related non-genetically modified food.Questionnaires were distributed to residents of these supermarkets.Information in the questionnaires included: consumers' understanding of GM foods,purchasing intention,attitudes on whether eating or not,factors of the purchase decision and concerns about foods ingredients and prospects for GM foods,etc.A total of 1,200 questionnaires were distributed and 1,068 valid questionnaires were retrived,with the effective questionnaire rate of 89%.At the same time,taking the differences between the working conditions of consumers into account,random questionnaires and individual interviews were undertaken among the consumers of these supermarkets during the working days and nonworking days.During leisure times in the evening,residents in some areas were randomly interviewed about their attitudes,willingness to accept and cognition degree to the GM foods.Results:1 Identification of GM foodSoybean oil,corn oil and others,which are clearly required by the government for GM food identification,have relatively clear logos.More GM raw materials processed foods are not clearly identified,and some logos are even deliberately hidden.The logos of products with the use of non GM raw materials are quite clear.2 The problem of GM food marketGM labeling system requires only 17 kinds of labeling,GM food requirements are not clear or even absent,such as the specific content of the tag and the GM ingredients and potential hazards.The supervision of GM foods,the corresponding supervision and management department only stay on the surface or the static system level,and the market regulation has not been actually implemented.Departments at all levels have a long way to go to maintain the consumer's right to choose.3 The consumer's cognitive status and the ways of understanding of GM foodsMore than 80% of consumers lack sufficient knowledge of GM foods.89.10% of consumers said they had never met the sales staff to recommend genetically modified food,71.20% of consumers simply do not know whether there exists GM foods-related laws and regulations in China.Consumer's awareness of GM foods are mainly from journals(65.90%),television(54.30%),and network(only 29.20%).Compared with traditional foods,consumer acceptance of GM foods is relatively low.Compared with younger consumers,consumers over the age of 40 have lower tendency to purchase GM foods.4 Consumer willingness to purchase and attitudes towards GM food labelingConsumers' attitude toward those GM foods which aimed to improve nutrition status is of high degree of acceptance.93.60% of consumers believe that GM foods must have a clear mark,only 1.50% of consumers think that GM foods do not need a mark,4.90% of consumers think it does not matter.5 Consumer attitudes toward GM foods68.90% of consumers are willing to attend lectures and training courses to understand more about GM foods.Conclusions: GM foods labeling among markets in Shijiazhuang area is not standard.Less than 30% of the four kinds of common foods has a label,and 80% of the respondents are not fully conscious of GM foods labeling.Although three quarters of the respondents have no idea of the existence of GM-related laws and regulations,68.9% of the consumers are willing to attend GM-related lectures.To address the problem of low cognition and emotional resistance of GM foods among consumers,it is crucial for the government to develop effective ways and proper modes to promote GM foods.With scientific guidance for the public's attitudes toward GM foods,we are looking forward to a healthy and orderly environment among GM foods in our country.