Surveys of GM acceptance in Australia

05 July 2001

Genetically Modified Governance Issues, GMO Surveys, Parliamentary Library, Canberra

Genetically Modified Governance Issues, GMO Surveys, Parliamentary Library, Canberra

An April 2000 AC Neilson survey of 950 people found that 68% were not happy about eating GM food and 90% of those surveyed believed GM foods should be labelled. Only 20% believed that GM food provided benefits and would be happy to eat it and 12% cent did not believe there were benefits but were happy to consume it. Less than 20% felt that they had been well informed,

despite the government GM grochure designed for distribution in

supermarkets. Essentially a strong skepticism was revealed.

A Good Business Sense survey conducted in the first quarter of 2000 found that 71% of consumers did not wish to purchase GM foods.

Food industry members of Australian Business Limited in March 2000 were shown to be predominantly in favour of GM food labelling. An Australian National University survey (by the International Survey Project) showed that support for GM labelling had grown from 90% in 1994-5 to 96% this year.

Biotechnology Australia, in a survey conducted by Quantum Market Research in May 2000, ranked issues of concern and the findings were: food poisoning (72%), pesticide use (68%), human tampering of food (65%)- and GM foods (58%). The survey also identified consumers need for more balanced and factual information. Biotech Australia further reported in July 2000 that 65 % of all respondents would eat GM foods if there was a benefit and that 37% of people said that labels on GM foods would not alter their food purchasing. It is understood that a further 9% would actively buy GM foods, however the results of the full survey are not available in print.

The Wall Street Journal. April 5th 2001 "Laboratory Tests Belie Promises of some 'GMO Free' Food Labels" by Patricia Callahan and Scott Kilman. (Inter Governmental Task Force for Genetically Modified Food Labelling:

Labelling Genetically Modified Food: Compliance Guide to Standard A18?.

For further information

Classification

Subject  Biodiversity
Regional relation  Australia
Audience  Activists - Government and Policy Makers - NGOs - Teachers and Educators