THE INFLUENCE OF REALISTIC PRODUCT EXPOSURE ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS GENETIC-ENGINEERING OF FOOD

Public attitudes towards genetic engineering remain uncrystallized and are likely to be influenced by whatever information becomes available . One source of information about genetically engineered food is the a vailability of products on the supermarket shelves. The aim of the cur rent study was to examine the influence of product exposure on consume r perceptions of genetic engineering as applied to food production, as well as specific consumer products. The results indicated that realis tic product exposure does not influence consumer attitudes towards the technology. Acceptability of products was dependent on tangible benef its associated with individual products, rather than attitudes towards the technology overall.