What do we think about GMOs?
Genetically modified foods and what they are eaten with
The All–Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) presents data on whether Russians know what GMOs are, which products contain it and which do not, and which food products our fellow citizens will prefer in the store.
Every second participant of the survey (55%) knows how the abbreviation GMO (genetically modified organism) stands. Highly educated respondents (71%), Muscovites and Petersburgers (70%), 25-34-year-olds (63%) are more familiar with this information than respondents with primary education (20%), elderly people (42%) and villagers (47%). For 3% of respondents, GMOs are synonymous with "harmful" additives. And 40% of our fellow citizens honestly admitted that they could not answer this question.
Reflecting on which foods may contain GMOs, respondents most often named various types of meat products (29%). Every fifth participant of the survey (22%) assumes that vegetables, fruits, grains, etc. can be genetically modified. Some respondents mentioned dairy products (7%), bakery products (5%), canned food (4%), semi-finished products, fast food (3%), etc. And 19% respondents admit the presence of GMOs in any food.
More than half of the respondents (57%) do not know which food products can be said with full confidence – "they definitely do not contain GMOs." Those who believe that such products exist, first of all, count among them those that are grown with their own hands, collected in the forest, bought from "private owners", etc. (15%). Others believe that GMOs are not present in vegetable products (11%), dairy products (7%), bread and sweets (5%), etc.
Every second Russian (54%) admitted that he would not buy products containing GMOs. Residents of large cities spoke about it more often than others (79%). Another 50% of our fellow citizens would not purchase food products containing preservatives. Many are also prejudiced against food dyes (40%) and soy (38%). One in three will refuse to buy products containing palm oil (35%), flavor enhancers (33%) and antioxidants (31%). A quarter of respondents will not purchase products with emulsifiers (28%) and sodium nitrate (24%). And the salt content in the products will alienate only 15% of the survey participants.
In the store, if there are two similar products, three quarters of Russians (74%) are more likely to buy a non-GMO product, even if its genetically modified analogue will cost much cheaper. Young people (70%) and elderly people (68%), residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (69%) and small towns (66%) are in solidarity on this issue. Only 14% of the survey participants said that they would rather buy a product with GMOs. External attractiveness will also not be a serious reason to buy a product with GMOs: for example, the majority of respondents (76%) will prefer another product to it, even if its appearance will not be so good. 12% of respondents reported that in this case they will choose a genetically modified product. If the shelf life of a product with GMOs is significantly higher than that of a similar product without GMOs, the majority of Russians (78%) will still make a choice in favor of the latter. Only 11% of respondents said that in such a situation they would purchase a product with GMOs.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru06.06.2014