Abstract
Since the 1990s, there has been an emergence of a new type of biotechnology namely, Genetically Modified Food technology (GM). GM organisms result from biotechnological process which consists of altering traits of original crops by inserting the DNA of another organism (MacCracken et al., 2011). When GM foods were first introduced to market in 1994, researchers saw the need to conduct numerous studies in order to identify benefits and risks of this new technology (Butcher, 2009). However, as is the case with all innovations, researchers need a large time frame, in order to perform thorough research for establishing a set of associated benefits and risks. The consequent uncertainty regarding benefits and unknown risks of this technology has influenced public perception towards GM foods. As a result, this phenomenon has been an issue for both the food industry and governments. In addition, this innovation has divided the public into three categories namely the ones with positive views, the anti-GM and the neutral.
The past literature focused more on public understanding of GM and its connections to public information. Another aspect that the literature has focused on is the influence of public information on public perception. For instance, the studies conducted by Bredahl et al. (1998) were one of the most important in this regard, providing valuable information about public knowledge regarding GM and its perceptions. Nonetheless, the literature did not provide any information about the factors that shape public attitudes to GM, and lacked in providing reasons of the changes in public attitudes towards GM. Hence, the aim of this research is to investigate public knowledge and different attitudes towards GM food; specifically factors that shape these attitudes.
