Consumer-perceived risk model for the introduction of genetically modified food in Spain

• Published in: Food policy Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 519 - 528
• Main Authors: Martinez-Poveda, Africa, Molla-Bauza, Margarita Brugarolas, del Campo Gomis, Francisco Jose, Martinez, Laura Martinez-Carrasco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2009; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Series: Food Policy
• Subjects: Acceptance; Agricultural and food market; Agricultural policy; agro-food markets; consumer acceptance; Consumer behavior; consumer information; Consumer preferences; Food; food biotechnology; Food consumption; food policy; food purchasing; Food safety; Genetically altered foods; genetically modified foods; Genetically modified organisms; GM food; GM food Acceptance Perceived risk Structural equation models (SEM); market structure; markets; Mathematical models; Modelling; nutrition information; Perceived risk; Perception; Risk; Risk assessment; Spain; Structural equation models (SEM); Spain; Alicante Spain; Perceived risk; Acceptance; GM food; Structural equation models (SEM)
• ISSN: 0306-9192; 1873-5657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodpol.2009.08.001

Since the last part of the 20th century, the search for new forms of cultivation and food has basically centred on the application of biotechnology, giving rise to GM foods. Consumer acceptance is conditioned by the risk that they perceive from introducing food into their consumption habits processed through technology that they hardly understand. Besides, information is insufficient in the consumer ambit and moreover, it is influenced by ideological and ethical determining factors. The factors were analysed that influence this consumer-perceived risk through a structural equation model. This study was conducted in Spain, concretely in the province of Alicante, located in the southeast of this country.
The main conclusion from this research is that the introduction of GM food into agro-food markets should be accompanied by adequate policies to guarantee consumer safety. These actions would allow a decrease in consumer-perceived risk by taking special care of the information provided, concretely relating to health. For, the most influential factor in consumer-perceived risk from these foods is concern about health.