Italian Consumer Acceptance of Nutritionally Enhanced GM Food

Abstract

The aim of this article is to evaluate Italian consumers’ acceptance and willingness to purchase GM foods based on the type of benefit (input vs output trait) and product (plant based vs animal based). Two surveys were administered in two consecutive years (2004 and 2005) and the data used to test for possible changes in consumer acceptance. The results of a multinomial logit analysis suggest that on average consumer acceptance for plant-based GM food was higher in 2005. This study confirmed the key role of information strategies to consumers, with the most relevant results being the role distorted information play in raising the consumer’s level of fear and perceived risk. Respondents also place a higher level of confidence on scientists who are generally seen as independent of the industry. Consumers that usually consume and buy enhanced food products have a higher probability to buy a GM product providing an increased vitamin content.