The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is today publishing findings of a qualitative research project commissioned to explore public attitudes to genetic modification (GM).
This report is timely and will be considered by the independent steering group that has been set up to shape and carry out the forthcoming GM Dialogue that the FSA has been asked to lead on, on behalf of government.
This work was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen), an independent research organisation, and was a qualitative piece of work designed to:
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explore why people hold particular views on GM food
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better understand how people’s attitudes to GM food are formed
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explore how people weigh up the risks and benefits associated with GM food
This research found different levels of understanding about GM food. Attitudes to GM food are complex and the risks and benefits of GM food are weighed up differently depending on the factors that underpin views. More information about the research and its findings can be found in the NatCen report (executive summary, full report)
This research will be presented to the independent steering group for the GM Dialogue at its first meeting being held later today.