CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

Results from an Ohio survey indicate that respondents are willing to pay a premium, ranging from 5% for non-GM vegetable oil to 28% for non-GM salmon. Estimated consumer willingness to pay for non-GM foods varies among demographic groups with female, those aged between 35 and 60, and non-White respondents willing to pay a higher premium than others.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Embracing Globalization: A Study of Factors Shaping Consumer Acceptance of Imported Products

Free trade as embraced by globalization is altering the world\u27s economies at an unprecedented pace. Yet, this inertia may be stymied by consumers who feel threatened by the changes in their domestic economies and by imported products. This study examines factors shaping consumer acceptance of imported products. With samples derived from Singapore and New Zealand, we explore the impact of consumer ethnocentrism, domestic product quality, the necessity of a product, and cultural openness on acceptance of imports. The findings reveal that only consumer ethnocentrism has a strong association with opposition to imports. The other factors show some impact but in a more muted sense. Implications are presented

Consumer trust and confidence: Some recent ideas in the literature

This is a post-print version of the article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - © IWA Publishing 2008This paper reflects on two recent debates in the consumer literature on trust that have implications for consumer relations in the water industry. The first concerns an important yet seldom made distinction between trust and confidence. The second concerns when and how trust is related to acceptance of, for example, new tariffs or new technologies, and it challenges the conventional view that trust is usually a precursor of acceptance. New conceptual models addressing these debates are described and their implications for future water-related consumer research are discussed as are potential implications for industry relationships with consumers

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF FOOD BIOTECHNOLOGY: WILLINGNESS TO BUY GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD PRODUCTS

Biotechnology is often viewed as the defining technology for the future of food and agriculture with the potential to deliver a wide range of economic and health benefits. Public acceptance of genetically modified food products is a critical factor for this emerging technology. Using data from a national survey, this study examines public acceptance of food biotechnology by modeling consumers' willingness to buy genetically modified foods. Empirical results suggest that younger, white, male and college educated individuals are more likely to accept food biotechnology. Public confidence in scientists, corporations, as well as government has significant effects on consumer acceptance of food biotechnology. While religious views influence consumer acceptance of food biotechnology, income and social/political orientations do not have significant effects. Empirical results indicate regional differences in the acceptance of genetically modified foods.Consumer/Household Economics,

Consumers Reactions to Tesco's market entry in Taiwan - a comparison with the UK experience

The purpose of this paper is to research consumer response to retail branding models in Taiwan by means of exploratory qualitative research comparing Tesco’s retail branding in the UK and Taiwan in order to find out the level of consumer acceptance of Tesco in Taiwan as a new market entrant. From the consumers’ viewpoint, Taiwanese Tesco’s retail corporate images, store positioning and retail branding process are not understood or clearly differentiated and identified by local consumers. This was a big problem for grocery shoppers and should therefore be considered as one of the key factors in Tesco`s withdrawal from the Taiwan market. It demonstrates the consumer acceptance issues even a strong retail brand faces transferring its brand to a new market with consumers unfamiliar with its retail brand proposition

Genetically modified maize: exploring consumer acceptance

Recent EU regulations have imposed mandatory labelling of all food products that consist of or contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Labelling should state that "this product contains genetically modified organisms". This study examines how different label messages may affect the attitude of consumers in tasting a specific food product (corn chip) derived from maize presented with five different labels ("organic corn", "conventional corn", "product that contains genetically modified corn", "product that contains genetically modified corn approved by EU", "non- classified corn"). Results of 100 Greek young students show that the label claiming that the product contains genetically modified corn, evokes a deeply rooted negative attitude as more than half of participants (59%) refused to taste even a single piece of the product. The label claiming that the product is genetically modified but approved by EU is viewed as more credible but still 29% refuse to sample. The conclusion is that although the feeling of trust increases considerably when the label message is supported by a certifying agency, still a large proportion (almost one third) of participants of technological level education refuse to taste a product that has been approved by the EU for almost a decade. This result demonstrates with an emphatic way the phobia surrounding genetically modified food. On the contrary, products labelled as "organic" were tasted by the majority of participants, even without any kind of certification. Key words : Genetically modified maize, labelling, acceptanceConsumer/Household Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE OF FORAGE FINISHED BEEF

Consumer/Household Economics,

CONSUMER RESPONSE TO GMO FOODS: BRANDING VERSUS GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATION

The debate over the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMO's) has varied greatly in intensity. In Europe, the debate has been vigorous and European consumers have, in general, been extremely skeptical of the technology and unwilling to assume the risks associated with GMOs. Many retailers in Europe have promised that they will not sell food products that contain GMOs. In the U.S., consumer reaction to GMOs has been more muted. While some surveys have shown that a majority of Americans support the use of biotechnology, others have found that many Americans have reservations about the technology. Most of the research published to date has focused on consumer opinions regarding GMOs. Relatively little research has focused on understanding the basis of consumer opinion or developing or evaluating strategies targeted at gaining consumer acceptance of GMO products. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effect of two potential strategies to gain consumer acceptance of GMO foods. Specifically, we examine the effectiveness of using a familiar brand or federal government certification on consumer acceptance of GMOs. This research is timely because the rapid pace of GMO development and adoption will soon make it difficult, if not impossible, to maintain separate products based on the presence or absence of GMO content. The conceptual basis for the model used in this paper is Lancaster's theory of consumer demand. The paper discusses the results of the analysis that was undertaken.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,