Despite education, consumers still worried about GMOs

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are the fastest-growing food additive concern among consumers, even though consumers are more informed about GMOs and the benefits of their use in producing food, according to a report from the NPD Group, a Chicago-based global information company.

In 2013, over half of consumers had little to no awareness of GMOs and that percentage has shrunk to a little over a third. As awareness has grown, more consumers recognize that GMOs have benefits in producing better and more resilient crops. But for many consumers, the benefits of GMOs don’t outweigh their worries, the NPD Group stated in its report, “Navigating GMOs for Success,” which explores how genetically modified foods or beverages impact grocery shopping and consumption habits. 

TV news coverage and social media have informed consumers about GMOs and the benefits of their use, but the same channels have also fueled fears, the report stated. Of those consumers aware of and concerned about GMOs, their worries center around food safety and their interest in eating foods that are authentic and “real.” The aware and concerned consumers tend to make healthy choices when grocery shopping and shop at specialty grocers, produce stores, and other grocery channels in addition to traditional grocery stores, the NPD Group found.

Although awareness of GMOs is increasing, few consumers (11 percent) are aware that a federal GMO labeling law was passed in 2016. The law, which goes into effect in 2018, gives manufacturers the option of showing if their foods and beverages include genetically modified ingredients — either by words on the label, a symbol on the label, or an electronic code readable by a smartphone (QR code). Consumers, who are already relying on the packaging as a guide to determine if a product was made using GMOs, prefer on-package labeling versus using the QR code, NPD said.

“With increasing awareness and concern, consumers would benefit hearing from food manufacturers the reasons why they use GMOs and how their use benefits their customers,” said Darren Seifer, NPD Group food and beverage industry analyst, in the report. “They want to know about what happened to the product before it reached the shelf in areas such as country of origin, corporate responsibility, allergens, and other health information. Consumers today want to be informed and appreciate it when food companies make the effort to educate them.”