Japanese Consumer Perceptions of Genetically Modified Food: Findings From an International Comparative Study.
Japanese Consumer Perceptions of Genetically Modified Food: Findings From an International Comparative Study.
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DOI：
10.2196/ijmr.5850
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发表时间：
2016-08-29
影响因子：
2
通讯作者：
Imamura T
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Komoto K;Okamoto S;Hamada M;Obana N;Samori M;Imamura T
有关食品相关事件的报道，如奶牛感染牛海绵状脑病（2001年）和福岛核事故（2011年），在日本消费者中引起了极大的恐惧，并导致多名农民自杀，即使没有发生实际的健康损害。在人们对食品安全担忧的背景下，转基因食品的供应量不断增加。消费者需要信息来评估风险并做出明智的购买决定。然而，我们对日本消费者对转基因食品的看法缺乏清晰的了解。本研究旨在了解日本消费者对转基因食品的看法，以进行风险沟通。比较了4个国家消费者对转基因食品的看法。在日本、美国、英国和法国进行了基于网络的调查。参与者被问及人口统计学，对健康危害的恐惧，对转基因和育种改良产品的抵抗力，对转基因技术和产品的看法以及支付意愿。进行了多元线性回归分析，以及对二分变量的t检验、单因素方差分析和事后检验。在1812名同意参与的个人中，1705人（94%）做出了回应：457人来自日本，416人来自法国、美国和英国。男性/女性和年龄组的比例都差不多。在这项研究中，所有国家都看到了对转基因食品的一些抵制。法国表现出最强的抵抗力（P<.001），其次是日本，其抵抗力比美国和英国更强（P<.001）。总体而言，女性、60多岁及以上的人以及没有受过高等教育的人对转基因食品的抵抗力最大。日本对转基因食品危害的恐惧程度高于其他国家（P<.001，比值比=2.408，CI：1.614-3.594）;日本和法国受访者对转基因食品危害的恐惧程度最高（P<.001）。关于对转基因技术和产品的看法，日本以外的国家的消费者如果得到适当的解释，向他们提供支持其安全性的科学数据，并且他们理解所有食品都有一定的风险，就会接受转基因食品。然而，日本消费者倾向于接受转基因技术，但拒绝将其应用于食品（P<.001）。在那些愿意购买转基因食品的人中，日本的消费者要求30%的折扣，而其他国家约为20%。在我们的研究中，所有消费者都对转基因食品有抵抗力。虽然没有已知的健康危害，但日本和法国的受访者强烈认为转基因食品是一种健康风险。30%的价格折扣和转基因技术可能是日本消费者开始讨论转基因食品的沟通线索。虽然仅进行教育的风险沟通通常并不有效，但这种方法在日本可能有效，可以帮助消费者更好地了解转基因技术，并最终了解转基因食品。接受转基因技术和拒绝将其应用于食品之间的差距应进一步探讨。
Reports of food-related incidents, such as cows infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (2001) and the Fukushima nuclear accident (2011), engendered significant fear among Japanese consumers and led to multiple farmer suicides, even when no actual health damage occurred. The growing availability of genetically modified (GM) food is occurring against this backdrop of concern about food safety. Consumers need information to assess risk and make informed purchasing decisions. However, we lack a clear picture of Japanese consumer perceptions of GM food. This study aims to understand Japanese consumer perceptions of GM food for risk communication. Consumer perceptions of GM food were compared among 4 nations. A Web-based survey was conducted in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Participants were asked about demographics, fear of health hazards, resistance to GM and breeding-improved products, perception of GM technology and products, and willingness to pay. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted, as were t tests on dichotomous variables, and 1-way analysis of variance and post hoc tests. Of 1812 individuals who agreed to participate, 1705 (94%) responded: 457 from Japan and 416 each from France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The male/female and age group ratios were all about even. Some resistance to GM food was seen in all countries in this study. France showed the strongest resistance (P<.001), followed by Japan, which had stronger resistance than the United States and the United Kingdom (P<.001). Overall, females, people in their 60s and older, and those without higher education showed the greatest resistance to GM food. Japan showed stronger fear of food hazards than other nations (P<.001, odds ratio=2.408, CI: 1.614-3.594); Japanese and French respondents showed the strongest fear of hazards from GM food (P<.001). Regarding perceptions of GM technology and products, consumers in nations other than Japan would accept GM food if it were appropriately explained, they were provided with scientific data supporting its safety, and they understood that all food carries some risk. However, Japanese consumers tended to accept GM technology but rejected its application to food (P<.001). Of those willing to purchase GM food, consumers in Japan required a discount of 30% compared with about 20% in other nations. All consumers in our study showed resistance to GM food. Although no health hazards are known, respondents in Japan and France strongly recognized GM food as a health risk. Price discounts of 30% and GM technology may be communication cues to start discussions about GM food among Japanese consumers. Although education-only risk communication generally is not effective, such an approach may work in Japan to help consumers better understand GM technology and, eventually, GM food. The gap between accepting GM technology and rejecting its application to food should be explored further.