1. What in your view, is the most important information
on food label?
Nutritional information - 39 votes (46%)
Information on GM ingredients - 11 votes (13%)
Country of origin - 0 votes (0%)
2. Why
do you think food containing GM ingredients should be labeled?
Safety reason - 43 votes (46%)
Ethical reasons - 44 votes (48%)
Others - 4 votes (4%)
Don't know - 2 votes (2%)
Total votes - 93
3. Would you buy food item that contain GMOs or produced from GMOs?
Yes, maybe - 31 votes (37%)
No- 15 votes (17 %)
Don't know - 15 votes (17%)
4. Do you think it is safe to consume GM food
Yes, maybe- 35 votes (39%)
No - 15 votes (17%)
Don't know - 18 votes (20%)
5. Do you think GM food can benefit mankind?
Yes, maybe - 29 votes (35%)
No - 13 votes (15%)
Don’t know - 16 votes (19%)
6. What do you think of your level of understanding
on GM foods?
Fairly good- 60 votes (68%)
No good - 16 votes (18%)
The usage of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food supply has been a rather controversial issue which has resulted in much uproar among activists and scientists alike due to ethical, ecological and safety concerns. In a poll conducted by MABIC from May 15th onwards, there has been much consensus among readers concerning the status of GMOs in the food supply, with most opting a liberal but guarded stance.
From 88 people who answered the poll, 72 people had at least a fairly good understanding of GM foods. However, it is noted that 16 voters find GM foods an obscure topic, and only 12 out of the 72 had very good understanding.
With regards to labeling regulation, 36 voters out of the 85 answered that the nutritional information of the food label is the most important information provider while 35 believed that the full list of ingredients were the most important. Others were more concerned of the information on GM ingredients.
Conversely, 44 out of 93 thought that GM ingredients should be labeled for ethical reasons. This is followed by 43 people who touted safety as the main reason behind such labeling regulations.
Regarding the perceived safety and consumer confidence in GMOs in food, readers generally approved with 29% stating their unreserved confidence in food items containing GMOs while a further 36% said that they might. This is contrasted with 17% of voters who balked against the idea of buying food items made from GMOs. Similarly, 21 out of 89 readers believe that GM foods are inherently safe. A further 35 agreed with reservation while 15 readers were not convinced of the safety of GM foods.
Hence, we have general approval amongst 66% of our readers that GM foods
are beneficial to mankind with 31% gave their unreserved support. However,
it should also be noted that a substantial amount of readers (15%) did
not think so.
