Ian Paolo CatalanMargarita Chan

Matthew MendezJustin Pangan

Marianne SasingJulianne Marie Te

Consumers’ Perceptions of Genetically Modified

Food

Background of the Survey The genetically modified foods has

resulted in a firestorm of public debate, scientific discussion, and media coverage. A variety of ecological and human health concerns come with the new advances made possible by genetic modification.

Background of the Survey As genetically modified foods

become available, what does the public think of them?

Objectives: Survey consumers on their

perceptions of GMF Inform respondents about GMF if

they still do not know about it Present results of survey to class

Procedure:1. We asked 26 male and 16 female

consumers on their perception about GMF. Our respondents were our neighbors.

2. Age of our respondents ranges from 16 to 45 (years old).

3. We used a 4-item survey questionnaire.

Procedure:4. For respondents who do not know what GMF are, we

informed them about it using the information below: Genetically modified foods come from crops and

other food sources that have been modified by a technique called gene technology.

This technique allows food producers to change certain characteristics of a food crop by introducing genes from another source.

An example of this is a corn plant with a gene that makes it resistant to insect attack.

Procedure:5. We then ask them Items 2 to 4.6. We recorded their responses and

tabulated our data in a worksheet.7. We then processed our data using a

spreadsheet application and created graphs.

8. Lastly, we analyzed our data.

The Results

Question 1: Do you know what genetically modified food are?

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14

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2

4

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16

Yes No Response No

Response

Num

ber

of

resp

onden

ts

malefemale

Question 2: Would you buy/eat foods that you know are genetically modified?

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7

16

3 3

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2

4

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18

Yes Not Sure No

Response

Num

ber

of

resp

onden

ts

malefemale

Question 3: Are genetically modified food harmful or beneficial?

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65

10

2

4

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2

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Harmful Not Sure Beneficial

Response

Num

ber

of

resp

onden

ts

malefemale

Question 4: Is there is a need to increase people’s awareness on genetically modified food?

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0

6

14

1 1

0

5

10

15

20

25

harmful Not Sure beneficial

Response

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ber

of

resp

onden

ts

malefemale

Interesting Findings Consumers who know what GMF are

would not eat or buy such foods. 48% of our respondents still do not know

what GMF are 81% of the respondents would like more

people to know about GMF 60% of the respondents said that GMF are

harmful. A few of them as noted by the interviewer even explained why they are harmful.

ReferencesInformation About Genetically Modified Food

gathered from the following Web sites:

Genetically Modified Foods and Organismshttp://www.ornl.gov/hgmis/elsi/gmfood.html

BioTechnology and Foodhttp://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/Biotech_&_Food.pdf