Consumer Social and Psychological Factors Influencing the Use of Genetically Modified Foods—A Review

Abstract

Due to rapid globalization in the world, the understanding of cultural differences, such as beliefs, values, ways of thinking, and perceptions about new technologies in food processing have also increased. Since the 1990s, when genetically modified (GM) foods were introduced into the food supply, they have provoked many debates. In this review, it was identified and discussed how social and psychological factors influence public attitudes to GM foods and the perceptions of consumers in using GM foods. According to this review, GM foods are deemed unnatural and artificial, thus affecting the overall acceptance of their application. Due to the concerns about their effects on the environment and human health, people expect an assessment of the known or possible dangers, as well as the preventative management of the risks. Providing adequate information about GM foods via a compulsory labeling policy may serve as an appropriate way to increase public awareness and acceptance of GM foods.

A Holistic Approach for Ethics and Sustainability in the Food Chain: The Gateway to Oral and Systemic Health

“…The issue of the unnaturalness of GM food and GMOs has been discussed from different angles such as ethics, nutrition, religion, fear, and safety among other less prominent viewpoints. They all refer to the transgenic nature of GM food and GMOs and conclude that the average consumer cannot relate to an end product that contains traits of two or more organisms that are not naturally (or sexually) compatible; therefore, the term "unnatural" and "artificial" appears in different studies and consultations, without any linkages to the scope of the inquiry of the studies, as reported by Siddiqui et al [135].…”

“…Regarding fear, i.e., an emotion that is often expressed in food-related issues, consumer attitudes are shaped by the role of neo-phobia [128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135]. In the case of GMOs, foodrelated fears affect the behavior of the consumer.…”

Ethics in the Food Ecosystem from Research to Consumption in Conjunction with Oral Health Significance for Sustainability and Spirituality Purposes—Mouth: The Sacred Gateway

“…The issue of unnaturalness on GM food and GMOs has been discussed from different angles such as ethics, nutrition, religion, fear, safety among other less prominent viewpoints. They all refer to the transgenic nature of GM food and GMOs and conclude that the average consumer cannot relate to an end product that contains traits of two or more organisms that are not naturally (or sexually) compatible, and therefore the term "unnatural" and "artificial" appears in different studies and consultations, without any linkages on the scope of the inquiry of the studies as reported by Siddiqui et al [132].…”

“…Regarding fear, i.e. an emotion that is often expressed in food related issues, consumer attitudes are shaped by the role of neo-phobia [125][126][127][128][129][130][131][132]. In the case of GMOs, food related fears affect the behaviour of the consumer.…”