The Perspectives of Using Genetically Modified Food Free Essay Example, 2000 words

According to Klerck and Sweeney (2007), consumer knowledge plays an important role in expounding consumer behaviours especially regarding information and information processing; hence, knowledge is essential in GM food studies because of the apprehension in the public. Communication, especially during the initial stages, is an essential part for GM because mass media is the main source of communication that consequently results in public perceptions regarding GM foods. Most information in the media suggests that GM foods may be harmful to human and the growth of GM food crops to be harmful to the environment. Various studies confirm that this information represents key reasons why many consumers are reluctant to consume GM foods. Although in truth there are risks associated with GM foods, most of the accusations against it by the media are never grounded in fact and the media rarely communicate the benefits associated with GM foods to the public. According to Klerck and Sweeney (20 07), when consumers lack access to more impartial sources of information, their subjective knowledge that is mainly gained through controversial and biased media increases their risks perceptions regarding GM foods. We will write a custom essay sample on The Perspectives of Using Genetically Modified Food or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Various studies confirm that this information represent key reasons why many consumers are reluctant to consume GM foods. Although in truth there are risks associated with GM foods, most of the accusations against it by the media are never grounder in fact and the media rarely communicate the benefits associated with GM foods to the public. According to Klerck and Sweeney (2007), when consumers lack access to more impartial sources of information, their subjective knowledge that is mainly gained through controversial and biased media increases their risks perceptions regarding GM foods. According to Devos et al (2008), the significant aspect laying at the controversy of GM foods is the difference of perception regarding their risk from a scientific expert and laypeople. Experts often assess risks based on scientific standards while laypeople depend on less rigorous notions of risk. Therefore, in the GMO debate, laypeople tend to expand the notion of risk by raising various concerns like usefulness, socio-economic impacts, respect for nature, freedom of choice, long-term consequences, uncertainties and fallibility of experts and sustainability of agriculture (Devos et al, 2008). Therefore, since the public is never homogenous, there are various perceptions of risk in different nations, cultures and within different individuals at different times.