May 29, 2014 — If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rules that genetically engineered fish are safe to eat, the majority of U.S. consumers would buy it, according to a new survey.
Fifty-nine percent of consumers are “somewhat” or “very” likely to buy genetically engineered seafood if the FDA deems it safe, according to the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) annual “Consumer Perceptions of Food Technology” report, released on 28 May. At the same time, 26 percent said it is “not too likely” that they would buy GE seafood if it is approved and 15 percent said it is “not at all likely.”
In addition, consumers are confused about genetically modified seafood. When asked whether they believe GMO fish is currently being sold in supermarkets, 12.5 percent of those surveyed said that it is. In reality, AquaBounty’s genetically engineered salmon is not being sold in the U.S., because it is pending approval by the FDA.
“I would expect that some of the news coverage of genetically engineered salmon and the discussions of whether GE fish should be labeled or approved may have something to do with that,” Lindsey Loving, senior director of food ingredient and technology communications for IFIC, told SeafoodSource.
Americans are also unsure whether to support animal (including fish) biotechnology in general. Thirty-one percent said their overall impression of animal biotechnology is favorable, while 31 percent said it is not favorable and 25 percent were neutral.
Read the full story at SeafoodSource.com