The Impact of Product Package Information on Consumer Behavior toward Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically modified (GM) technology in food production continued to generate controversies. Consumers were concerned with the GM foods about the healthy and environmental risks. While consumers- acceptance was a critical factor affecting how widely this technology be used. According to the research review, consumers- lack of information was one of the reasons to explain consumers- low acceptance toward GM foods. The objective for this study wanted to find out would informative product package affect consumers- behavior toward GM foods. An experiment was designed to investigate consumer behavior toward different product package information. The results indicated that the product package information influenced consumer product trust toward GM foods. Compared with the traceability production system information, the information about the GM rice was approved by authorized organizations could increase consumers product trust in GM foods. Consumers in Taiwan saw the information provided by authorized organizations more credible than other information.

Authors:

• Yu-Syuan Chang
• Li-Chun Huang

Keywords:

• product package information
• genetically modifiedfood
• consumer product trust
• risk perception
• benefit perception.

References:

[1] D. R. Anderson, "Biotechnology risk management: the case of genetically
modified organisms (GMOs)," CPUC Journal, pp.215-230, 2001.
[2] R. E. Lofstedt, B. Fishhoff, and L. R. Fischhoff, "Precautionary
principles: General definitions and specific applications to genetically
modified organisms," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol.
21, pp. 381-398, 2002.
[3] S. G. Uzogara, "The impact on genetic modification of human foods in the
21st century: A review," Biotechnology Advance, Vol. 18, pp. 179-206,
2000.
[4] P. Handler, "The global status of genetically modified organisms in
agricultural practice," Agbioforum, Vol. 208, pp. 1093-2007, 2004.
[5] A. McHughen, "Fatal flaws in agbiotech regulatory policies," Nature
Biotechnology, Vol. 25, pp. 725-227, 2007.
[6] Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, http://www.tier.org.tw, 2009.
[7] J. Fernandez-Cornejo, and M. Caswell, "The First Decade of Genetically
Engineered Crops in the United States," United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA-ERS), Economic Information Bulletin 11, 2006.
[8] M. K. Magnusson, and U. K. Hursti, "Consumer attitudes towards
genetically modified foods," Appetite, Vol. 39, pp. 9-24, 2002.
[9] F. Carlsson, P. Frykblom, and C.-J. Lagerkvist, "Consumer benefits and
Bns on genetically modified food - An empirical analysis using Choice
Experiment," American journal of agricultural economics, Vol. 89(1), pp.
152-161, 2007.
[10] W. Moon, S. K. Balasubramanian, and A. Rimal, "WTP and WTA for
Non-GM and GM Food: UK Consumers," Selected Paper prepared for
presentation at the American Agricultural Economics Association Annual
Meeting, Long Beach, California, 2006.
[11] J. L. Lusk, M. Jamal, L. Kurlander, M. Roucan, and L. Taulman, "A Meta
Analysis of Genetically Modified Food Valuation Studies," A Meta
Analysis of Genetically Modified Food Valuation Studies, Vol. 30(1), pp.
28-44, 2005.
[12] R. Lidskog, "In Science We Trust? On the Relation Between Scientific
Knowledge, Risk Consciousness and Public Trust," Acta Sociologica,
Vol. 39(1), pp. 31-58, 1996.
[13] L. Bredahl, "Consumers- Cognitions With Regard to Genetically
Modified Foods: Results of a Qualitative Study in Four Countries,"
Appetite, Vol. 33(3), pp. 343-360, 1999.
[14] M-F. Chen, and H-L. Li, "The consumer-s attitude toward genetically
modified foods in Taiwan," Food Quality and Preference, Vol. 18, pp.
662-674, 2007.
[15] A. Mucci, G. Hough, and C. Ziliani, "Factors that influence purchase
intent and perceptions of genetically modified foods among Argentine
consumers," Food Quality and Preference, pp. 559-567, 2004.
[16] E. O-Connor, G. Williams, C. Cowan, J. O-Connell, and M. P. Boland, "A
snapshot of public opinion on biotechnology and GM foods at the turn of
the twenty-first century," Irish Market Review, Vol. 17(1/2), pp. 37-48,
2004.
[17] F. Laros, and J.-B. Steenkamp, "Importance of fear in the case of
genetically modified food," Psychology and Marketing, Vol. 21(11), pp.
889-908, 2004.
[18] W. Hu, W. L. Adamowice, and M. M. Veeman, "Labeling Content and
Reference Point Effect in Models of Food Attribute Demand," American
Agricultural Economics Association, Vol. 88(4), pp. 1034-1049, 2006.
[19] J. L. Lusk, and A. Rozan, "Public Policy and Endogenous Beliefs: The
Case of Genetically Modified Food. Journal of Agricultural and Resource
Economics," Vol. 33(2), pp. 270-289, 2008.
[20] J. Scully, "Genetic engineering and perceived levels of risk. British Food
Journal," Vol. 5(1/2), pp. 59-77, 2003.
[21] P. Tenb├╝lt, N. D. Vries, E. Dreezens, and C. Martijn, "Categorizing
Genetically Modified Food Products-Effects of labeling on information
processing," British Food Journal, Vol. 109(4), pp. 305-314, 2007.
[22] H. S. Park, and S. Y. Lee, "Genetically Engineered Food Labels,
Information or Warning to Consumers?, " Journal of Food Products
Marketing, Vol. 9(1), pp. 49-62, 2003.
[23] C. A. Bond, D. D. Thilmany, and J. K. Bond, "What to Choose? The
Value of Label Claims to Fresh Produce Consumers," Journal of
Agriculture and Resource Economics, Vol. 33(3), pp. 402-427, 2008.
[24] B. Roe, and M. F. Teisl, "Genetically modified food labeling: The impacts
of message and messenger on consumer perceptions of labels and
products," Food Policy, Vol. 32(1), pp. 49-66, 2007.
[25] M. F. Teisl, L. Halverson, K. O-Brien, B. Roe, N. Ross, and M. Vayda,
"Focus Group Reactions to Genetically Modified Food Labels,"
AgBioForum, Vol. 5(1), pp. 6-9, 2002.
[26] S. Miles, ├©. Ueland, and L. J. Frewer, "Public attitudes towards
genetically-modified food," British Food Journal, Vol. 107(4), pp.
246-262, 2005.
[27] A. M. Batrinou, V. Spiliotis, and G. Sakellaris, "Acceptability of
genetically modified maize by young people," British Food Journal, Vol.
110(3), pp. 250-259, 2008.
[28] K. G. Grunter, T. Bech-Larsen, L. Lahteenmaki, ├©. Ueland, and A.
Astrom, "Attitudes Towards the Use of GMOs in Food Production and
Their Impact on Buying Intention ´╝Ü The Role of Positive Sensory
Experience," Agribusiness, Vol. 20(1), pp. 95-107, 2004.
[29] L. A. Heslop, "If we label it, will they care? The effect of GM-ingredient
labelling on consumer responses," Consumer Policy, Vol. 29, pp.
203-228, 2006.
[30] J. Knight, D. Mother, and D. Holdsworth, "Consumer benefits and
acceptance of Genetically Modified Food," Journal of Public Affairs, Vol.
5, pp. 226-235, 2005.
[31] E. O-Connor, C. Cowan, G. Williams, J. O-Connell, and M. P. Boland,
"Acceptance by Irish consumers of a hypothetical GM dairy spread that
reduces cholesterol," British Food Journal, Vol. 107(6), pp. 361-380,
2005.
[32] L. J. Frewer, C. Howard, and R. Shepherd, "The Influence of Realistic
Product Exposure on Attitudes toward Genetic Engineering of Food,"
Food Quality and Preference, Vol. 7(1), pp. 61-67, 1994.
[33] M. Bongyu, G. Billingsley, M. Younis, and E. Nwagwu, "Genetically
Modified Foods and Public Health Debate: Designing Programs to
Mitigate Risk," Public Administration & Management, Vol. 13(3), pp.
191-217, 2009.
[34] L. Bredahl, "Determinants of consumer attitudes and purchase intentions
with regard to genetically modified foods-Results of a crossnational
survey," Journal of Consumer Policy, Vol. 24(1), pp. 23-61, 2001.