A opinião pública a respeito dos organismos geneticamente modificados no Brasil: confiança e percepção de risco

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to present the methodology and results of a quantitative research on public acceptance for foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Brazil. It surveyed 827 urban consumers in the country, asked about (i) their perception of risks associated with GM foods, (ii) knowledge and propensity to consume them, (iii) the criteria used in choosing foods, (iv) confidence in government agencies that certify their safety/quality, and (v) fears related to food products. The results show that for most consumers interviewed, GMOs are not a source of concern and perhaps risk, unlike pesticides and biological contaminants, as well as the nutritional characteristics of foods. However, these results are possibly a consequence of the low level of knowledge about GMOs and the high trust in regulatory authorities - if those circumstances change in the future, a change in the perception of consumers is quite likely to happen.