Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

What Russians are most afraid to buy products containing genetically modified organisms and preserving agents, and least afraid to buy products containing salt and sodium nitrate. However, 11-14% of respondents prefer GM products to GMO-free products, all other things being equal.

MOSCOW, June 5, 2014. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the information concerning what Russians know about genetically modified food, what products contain genetic modification, and what food Russians prefers to buy. 

Every second respondent knows what GMO means (55%); they are basically respondents with high level of education (71%), Muscovites and St. Petersburgians (70%), and 25-34-year-old Russians (63%), rather than respondents with elementary level of education (20%), elderly respondents (42%) or rural area residents (47%). For 3% of respondents the GMO is synonymic with harmful supplements. Forty percent of Russians say that they do not know what it is.

Thinking over what products may contain GM ingredients; most of respondents cite meat products (29%). Every fifth Russian (22%) mentions fruits, vegetables, crops. Some cite dairy products (7%), bakery (5%), canned goods (4%), half-finished products, fast food (3%). Nineteen percent say that GMO may be present in any food.

More than half of Russians (57%) do not know what products are sure not to contain GMO. Those who believe that such foods exist mention those that were grown, collected in the forest or bought from private traders (15%). Others believe that GMO cannot be found in plant products (11%), dairy products (7%), bread and candies   (5%).

Every second Russian (54%) refuses to buy GM products. They are mainly residents of big cities (79%). Other   50% would not buy products that contain preserving agents. Many refrain from products containing coloring matter (40%) and soya (38%). Every third refrains from food containing palm oil (35%), flavor enhancers (33%), and antioxidants (31%). One-quarter of respondents do not buy products containing emulsifiers (28%) and sodium nitrate (24%). Fifteen percent beware of salt.

Choosing between two similar products, one-third of Russians (74%) would rather buy product without GMO even if its cost is higher. Those who do so are young Russians (70%) and elderly respondents (68%), residents of Moscow and St.Petersburg (69%) and small cities (66%). Only 14% would opt for GM product. Visual appeal of GM products does not attract Russians: most of them (76%) would choose other products even if they are not visually appealing; 12% opt for GM products. Even if the shelf life of the GM products is longer than that of non-GMO products most of Russians (78%) would choose the latter; only 11% would choose the GM foods.

The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on May 24-25, 2014. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. Data are weighted by gender, age, education, working status and type of settlement.  The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Some products contain genetically modified organisms. Do you know what GMO means?

(open-ended question, one answer)

 

Total

Aged   18-24

Aged   25-34

Aged   35-44

Aged   45-59

Aged   60 and over

Genetically modified organisms

55

53

63

62

55

42

Product containing harmful supplements, harmful products

3

4

2

2

3

2

Artificially grown products

1

1

<1

<1

2

1

Don`t know

38

39

32

32

36

51

Other

1

1

1

<1

2

1

Hard to tell

2

2

2

2

2

3

In your opinion, what products may contain GMO?  (open-ended question, not more than four answers)

 

Total

Meat, poultry, farmed  fish

29

Plant products (vegetables, fruits, cereal, crops)

22

Any products

19

Dairy

7

Bakery, sweets

5

Canned goods

4

Half-finished products ,instant  food , fast food

3

Soy products

3

Imported goods

2

Sauces, dressings

2

Long shelf life products

1

Other

1

Другое

4

Don`t know

34

Which products do not contain GMO? (open-ended question, not more than four answers)

 

Total

Natural  products (grown by people themselves, bought from private traders, collected in the forest, fresh or salt-water fish)

15

Plant  products (vegetables, fruits, cereal, crops)

11

Dairy products

7

Bakery, sweets

6

Water, juices

3

Meat, poultry, fish , seafood

3

All products contain GMO

3

Alcohol

2

Products with label stating “genetically engineered”

1

Alcohol

<1

Other

3

Don`t know

57

You have come to the shop to buy products. There are two items in front of you: one contains GMO, the other one does not contain GMO. Which one would you choose?

(closed-ended question, one answer per each statement)

GM products are cheaper than non-GMO products 

Rather buy a GM product

14

Rather buy a GMO-free  product

74

Don`t know

12

GM product looks more attractive than GMO-free product  

Rather buy a GM product

12

Rather buy a GMO-free  product

76

Don`t know

12

GM product has longer shelf life that GMO-free product

Rather buy a GM product

11

Rather buy a GMO-free  product

78

Don`t know

11

Which products containing the following substances would you refuse to buy?

(closed-ended question, any number of answers)

 

Total

Moscow and St. Petersburg

Million cities

More than 500 ths

100–500 ths

Less than 100 ths

Rural area

GMO

54

66

64

79

48

49

45

Preserving agents (E200-E299)

50

61

47

61

45

48

49

Coloring matters (E100-E199)

40

61

35

55

32

34

41

Soya and soy products

38

36

41

65

36

31

35

Palm oil

35

50

35

47

31

30

31

Flavor enhancers  (E600-E699)

33

41

27

56

30

29

29

Antioxidant  (E300-E399)

31

32

31

55

31

27

26

Emulsifier  (Е500-Е599)

28

34

20

42

24

30

27

Sodium nitrate

24

24

14

37

22

30

22

Salt

15

6

12

17

22

13

16

I can buy anything

11

8

7

8

11

14

10

Other

1

1

<1

<1

1

1

<1

Don`t know

7

2

7

1

6

8

9

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!

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