| This study was conducted to identify Canadian consumers' perceptions of the potential risks and benefits of genetically modified foods (GMF), and the factors that may influence these attitudes. In total, 58 consumers were recruited using purposive and convenience sampling techniques and completed self-administered questionnaires assessing perceptions of risk of GMF, perceived acceptability of different applications involving genetic modification and knowledge of GMF. Thirty-five of these consumers also completed in-depth, one-on-one interviews provided they fulfilled quota sampling parameters of gender, education, age and parental status. The self-administered questionnaires were subjected to statistical analyses including descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, chi2 and multiple regression. Qualitative data were analyzed and summarized using the 'accurate description' method. The study found that perceptions of risk were influenced by a complex interplay of a number of variables including: the themes science versus nature, trust in science and the regulatory system, power and control issues and ethical considerations that emerged from the qualitative analysis, having or not having knowledge, and to a lesser extent the sociodemographic variables. While gender, parental status, education and age influenced risk perceptions they did not do so in a consistent manner in either the qualitative or quantitative analyses. Using multiple regression analyses, the themes of science versus nature, ethics, having a university education and being married were the strongest predictors of attitudes towards GMF (R2 = .82). Although participants were somewhat supportive of the technology, they viewed genetically modified foods as posing slight to moderate risks and felt it would provide more benefits than risks to themselves, Canadians and globally. The long-term unknowns of GMF were perceived as the greatest risk, often resulting in prediction of disease or other catastrophes in the future. |
