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 |
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