Consumer Perceptions of Genetically Modified Food

Phone surveys were conducted with 1200 American adults in 2001 and in 2003 designed to track the strength, extent and persistence of consumers' attitudes toward genetically modified food. The results suggest that most Americans remain largely uninformed about GM foods and the topic is not often the subject of social discourse. Only 20% of Americans report having had more than one or two conversations about genetically modified foods. However, the results also suggest that support for GM foods has slipped between 2001 and 2003. In 2001, 59% of Americans said they thought GM would make their lives better. Only 39% had a similar response in 2003