search through journal, In this paper, dimensions of the debate surrounding the application of gene technology to food production are discussed and a study assessing perceptions of the technology among a sample of the UK public (n=1499) is reported. The general picture that emerges from the study is one of people expressing low familiarity with the technology, with more people associating it with high risks than with low risks, and more people expecting it to provide low benefits than high benefits. Attitudes towards different applications vary significantly, as does trust in different potential sources of information about the technology. It is also shown that attitudes can be predicted not only by estimates of risks and benefits but also by perceptions of the involvement of ethical issues, but the perceived need for the technology, and by the perceived likelihood of improvements it is likely to bring to the quality of life in the UK. The results are discussed in the context of the need for greater public information about the technology and the realization that communication of risks takes place within a complex network of societal relationships. (original)
Sponsored by The European Commission, Directorate General XXIV, Unilever, Association of Dutch Infant and Dietic Food Industries, Breukelen, Netherlands
Format:
Report
Publication Date:
1999-05-28
Published:
Consumer & Biotechnology Foundation in cooperation with European Federation of Asthma and Allergy Associations Bureau Europeen des Unions de Consommateurs
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 128 Document Number: C19101
