Strong support for FDA biotech foods labelling policy - survey

A SURVEY conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) shows that a significant number of American consumers support the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) current labelling policy for foods produced using biotechnology. According to the report, most respondents said they would purchase foods produced through biotechnology for nutrition. The IFIC said that most Americans are receptive if they are given accurate information about the technology used.

As to labellings, the survey said that Americans expressed satisfaction, with 74% saying there isn't anything they would like to add to what is currently on food labels; 8% said they wanted more nutritional data, 5% wanted more ingredient information, while 4% wanted information on biotechnology or related terms.

For several years, there has not been an unusual change in the percentage of consumers that support the current FDA labelling policy for foods produced via biotechnology, which is about 63% of respondents. The policy calls for labelling only when biotechnology makes substantial changes to a food’s composition or nutritional content, or when safety issues may arise, such as allergens. However the percentage increased for respondents who opposed the policy, 19% versus 14% in 2012.

Knowledge of biotechnology

In terms of understanding biotechnology, about 71% of Americans said they are aware of plant biotechnology, and 28% said they favour this process. However, there was an increase of respondents who opposed it, at 28% versus 22% in 2012. Interestingly, more millennials (ages 18-34 ) had good impressions of biotechnology, with four out of 10 in favour. About 25% of those in the 35-54 year bracket are in favour, while 24% of those in the 55 and older bracket were in favour.

Most said they would likely purchase foods modified by biotechnology for various nutrition and health-related benefits; 72% would be likely to purchase food products made with oils that were modified by biotechnology to provide more healthful fats, such as Omega-3 fatty acids. More than two-thirds of Americans said they would be likely to purchase foods improved with biotechnology to reduce the potential for carcinogens (69%), be protected from insect damage and require fewer pesticide applications (69%), enhance nutritional benefits (67% ), and eliminate the trans fat content in foods (67%).