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F&Y2 Wave 9, Chapter 7: Genetic technologies
This chapter summarises respondent knowledge of genetic technologies.
Introduction
The FSA is responsible for the authorisation of novel foods.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a broad remit and plays a major role in increasing the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhancing biosecurity at the border and raising animal welfare standards. In addition, Defra oversees the regulation of genetic technologies such as genetically modified organisms (GMO), gene edited (GE) organisms and precision bred foods. The FSA is responsible for the authorisation of novel foods.
This chapter summarises respondent knowledge of genetic technologies (footnote 1).
Awareness of gene-edited (GE), genetically modified (GM) and precision bred foods
Respondents were asked if they had ever heard of genetically modified (GM) food, gene-edited or genome-edited food and precision bred food. Respondents reported greater awareness and knowledge of genetically modified (GM) food than gene-edited or genome-edited food (GE) and least knowledge of precision bred food. For example, 63% of respondents had never heard of precision bred food (footnote 2) whereas 38% of respondents had never heard of GE food (footnote 3) and 8% of respondents had never heard of GM food (footnote 4) (Figure 24).
Figure 24. Awareness and knowledge of genetically modified (GM), gene edited/genome-edited (GE) and precision-bred food
Source: Food and You 2: Wave 9
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More detailed insights on changes to consumer eating habits, meat alternatives and sustainable diets are available in the Food and You 2 Wave 8 report.
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Question: Have you ever heard of Precision bred food? Responses: yes I’ve heard of it and know quite a lot about it, yes I’ve heard of it and know a bit about it, yes I’ve heard of it but don’t know much about it, yes I’ve heard of it but don’t know anything about it, no I’ve never heard of it, not stated. Base=4634, all online respondents and all responding to version A postal questionnaire.
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Question: Have you ever heard of Gene edited or genome edited food? Responses: yes I’ve heard of it and know quite a lot about it, yes I’ve heard of it and know a bit about it, yes I’ve heard of it but don’t know much about it, yes I’ve heard of it but don’t know anything about it, no I’ve never heard of it, not stated. Base=4634, all online respondents and all responding to version A postal questionnaire.
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Question: Have you ever heard of Genetically modified (GM) food? Responses: yes I’ve heard of it and know quite a lot about it, yes I’ve heard of it and know a bit about it, yes I’ve heard of it but don’t know much about it, yes I’ve heard of it but don’t know anything about it, no I’ve never heard of it, not stated. Base=4634, all online respondents and all responding to version A postal questionnaire.