Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T05:52:16.776Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Food Labeling and Consumer Associations with Health, Safety, and Environment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Joanna K. Sax  and
Neal Doran
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The food supply is complicated and consumers are increasingly calling for labeling on food to be more informative. In particular, consumers are asking for the labeling of food derived from genetically modified organisms (GMO) based on health, safety, and environmental concerns. At issue is whether the labels that are sought would accurately provide the information desired. The present study examined consumer (n = 181) perceptions of health, safety and the environment for foods labeled organic, natural, fat free or low fat, GMO, or non-GMO. Findings indicated that respondents consistently believed that foods labeled GMO are less healthy, safe and environmentally-friendly compared to all other labels (ps < .05). These results suggest that labels mean something to consumers, but that a disconnect may exist between the meaning associated with the label and the scientific consensus for GMO food. These findings may provide insight for the development of labels that provide information that consumers seek.

Type
Independent Articles
Information
Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics , Volume 44 , Issue 4: Health Reform: Assessing the Affordable Care Act and Moving Forward , Winter 2016 , pp. 630 - 638
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 2016

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

“Campbell Announces Support for Mandatory GMO Labeling,” (2016), available at <http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160107006458/en/Campbell-Announces-Support-Mandatory-GMO-Labeling> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
E.g., Hamblin, J., “No One Is Denying a ‘Right to Know What's in My Food,’” The Atlantic, July 24, 2015, available at <http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/07/no-one-is-deny-ing-a-right-to-know-whats-in-my-food/399536/> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
“GE Food Labeling: States Take Action” (2014), available at <http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/fact-sheets/3067/ge-food-labeling-states-take-action> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
9 V.S.A. §3041 et seq. (2013-14), An Act Relating to the Labeling of Food Produced with Genetic Engineering.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
“National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard,” available at <http://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Mandatory%20Labeling%20Bill.pdf> (last visited October 28, 2016) (amending The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, 7 U.S.C. 1621 et. seq.).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016)+(amending+The+Agricultural+Marketing+Act+of+1946,+7+U.S.C.+1621+et.+seq.).>Google Scholar
“FDA Takes Several Actions Involving Genetically Engineered Plants and Animals for Food,” November 19, 2015, available at <http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm473249.htm> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
FDA, “What Is the Meaning of ‘Natural’ on the Label of Food?” available at <http://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/transparency/basics/ucm214868.htm> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
E.g., Leyser, O., “Moving beyond the GM Debate,” PLoS Biology 12, no. 6 (2014): e1001887.Google Scholar
Miah, G., Rafii, M. Y., Ismail, M. R., Puteh, A. B., Rahim, H. A., Asfaliza, R., and Latif, M. A.., “Blast Resistance in Rice: A Review of Conventional Breeding to Molecular Approaches,” Molecular Biology Reports 40, no. 3 (2013): 2369–2388; G. Conko, D. L. Kershen, H. Miller, and W. A. Parrott, “A Risk-Basaed Appraoch to the Regulation of Genetically Engineered Organisms,” Nature Biotechnology 34, no. 5 (2016): 493-503.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
FDA, “Consumer Info about Food from Genetically Engineered Plants,” 2015, available at <http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/GEPlants/ucm461805.htm> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
See Miah et al., supra note 13; Strauss, S. H. and Sax, J. K., “Ending Event-Based Regulation of GMO Crops,” Nature Bio-technology 34, no. 5 (2016): 474–477; N. Weber, C. Halpin, L. C. Hannah, J. M. Jez, J. Kough, and W. Parrott, “Editor's Choice: Crop Genome Plasticity and Its Relevance to Food and Feed Safety of Genetically Engineered Breeding Stacks,” Plant Physiology 160, no.4 (2012): 1842-53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holdren, J. P., Shelanski, H., Vetter, D., and Goldfuss, C., “Improving Transparency and Ensuring Continued Safety in Biotechnology,” July 2, 2015, available at <https://www.white-house.gov/blog/2015/07/02/improving-transparency-and-ensuring-continued-safety-biotechnology> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
FDA, “Statement of Policy - Foods Derived from New Plant Varieties,” available at <http://www.fda.gov/Food/Guidance-Regulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Bio-technology/ucm096095.htm> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
See Weber et al., supra note 16.Google Scholar
Id; see Conko et al., supra note 13; see Strauss and Sax, supra note 16.Google Scholar
American Association for the Advancement of Science, Statement by the AAAS Board of Directors On Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods (2012), available at <http://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/migrate/uploads/AAAS_GM_statement.pdf> (last visited October 28, 2016); C. Snell, A. Bernheim, J. B. Berge, M. Kuntz, G. Pascal, A. Paris, and A. E. Ricroch, “Assessment of the Health Impact of GM Plant Diets in Long-Term and Multigenerational Animal Feeding Trials: A Literature Review,” Food and Chemical Toxicology 50, nos. 3-4 (2012): 1134-1148; National Academy of Sciences, Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects, May 17, 2016, available at <http://www.nap.edu/catalog/23395/genetically-engineered-crops-experiences-and-prospects> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016);+C.+Snell,+A.+Bernheim,+J.+B.+Berge,+M.+Kuntz,+G.+Pascal,+A.+Paris,+and+A.+E.+Ricroch,+“Assessment+of+the+Health+Impact+of+GM+Plant+Diets+in+Long-Term+and+Multigenerational+Animal+Feeding+Trials:+A+Literature+Review,”+Food+and+Chemical+Toxicology+50,+nos.+3-4+(2012):+1134-1148;+National+Academy+of+Sciences,+Genetically+Engineered+Crops:+Experiences+and+Prospects,+May+17,+2016,+available+at++(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
Deloitte, Deloitte 2010 Food Survey Genetically Modified Foods (2010), avilable at <https://web.archive.org/web/20101227135642/http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-UnitedStates/Local%20Assets/Documents/Consumer%20Business/us_cp_2010FoodSurveyFactSheetGeneticallyModifiedFoods_05022010.pdf> (last visited October 28, 2016); A. Kopicki, “Strong Support for Labeling Modified Foods,” New York Times, July 27, 2013, available at <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/strong-support-for-labeling-modified-foods.html?_r=1> (last visited October 28, 2016); Wikipedia, “Genetically Modified Food Controversies,” February 2016, available at <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016);+A.+Kopicki,+“Strong+Support+for+Labeling+Modified+Foods,”+New+York+Times,+July+27,+2013,+available+at++(last+visited+October+28,+2016);+Wikipedia,+“Genetically+Modified+Food+Controversies,”+February+2016,+available+at++(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
Id. (Kopicki).Google Scholar
Faber, S., “Demand for Organic Food Growing Faster than Domestic Supply,” 2006, available at <https://www.organic-consumers.org/news/demand-organic-food-growing-faster-domestic-supply> (last visited October 28, 2016).Google Scholar
United States Department of Agriculture, “Organic Agriculture,” 2015, available at <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=organic-agriculture.html> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
Hughner, R. S., McDonagh, P., Prothero, A., IIShultz, C. J., and Stanton, J., “Who are Organic Food Consumers? A Compilation and Review of Why People Purchase Organic Food,” Journal of Consumer Behavior 6 (2007): 94–110.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
See Kopicki, supra note 21; Anderson, M., “Amid Debate over Labeling GM Foods, Most Americans Believe They're Unsafe,” 2015, available at <http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/08/11/amid-debate-over-labeling-gm-foods-most-americans-believe-theyre-unsafe/> (last visited October 28, 2016).Google Scholar
Bawa, A. S., and Anilakumar, K. R., “Genetically Modified Foods: Safety, Risks and Public Concerns—A Review,” Journal of Food Science and Technology 50, no. 6 (2013): 1035–1046.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
Popoff, M., Moore, P., and Wager, R., “Organics versus GMO: Why the Debate?” 2013, available at <http://www.geneticli-teracyproject.org/2013/10/15/organics-versus-gmo-why-the-debate/> (last visited October 28, 2016).Google Scholar
Mukherjee, A., Speh, D., Dyck, E., and Diez-Gonzalez, F., “Pre-harvest Evaluation of Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Organic and Conventional Produce Grown by Minnesota Farmers,” Journal of Food Protection 67, no. 5 (2004): 894–900.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
E.g., California Western School of Law, “Standard 509 Information Report,” 2015, available at <https://www.cwsl.edu/search-results?search=509> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
See American Association for the Advancement of Science, supra note 21.Google Scholar
American Medical Association, “H-480.958 Bioengineered (Genetically Engineered) Crops and Foods,” 2012, available at <https://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/KIDdata/Tmy/2013HB-06527-R000305-AMA%20Bioenginerred%20Crops%20and%20Foods-TMY.PDF (last visited November 9, 2016).Google Scholar
See National Academy of Sciences, supra note 21.Google Scholar
Miller, H. I., “Why Organic Isn't ‘Sustainable,” November 19, 2014, available at <http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrymiller/2014/11/19/why-organic-isnt-sustainable/#49af3b5937aa> (last visited October 28, 2016).+(last+visited+October+28,+2016).>Google Scholar
Blaisdell, L. L., Gutheil, C., Hootsmans, N. A. M., and Han, P. K. J., “Unknown Risks: Parental Hesitation about Vaccination,” Medical Decision Making 36, no. 4 (2016): 479–489; D. Ellsberg, “Risk, Ambiguity, and the Savage Axioms,” Quarterly Journal of Economics 75, no. 4 (1961): 643-669; C. Camerer and M. Weber, “Recent Developments in Modeling Preferences: Uncertainty and Ambiguity,” Journal of Risk and Uncertainty 5, no. 4 (1992): 325-370.Google Scholar
Wiedemann, P. M. and Schutz, H., “The Precautionary Principle and Risk Perception: Experimental Studies in the EMF Area,” Environmental Health Perspectives 113, no. 4 (2005): 402–405; see also Strauss and Sax, supra note 16.Google Scholar