The Impact of Product Attribute Wording on Consumer Acceptance of Biotechnology Applications in Produce

A better understanding of consumer preferences for and behavior toward genetically modified (GM) foods is essential for designing new market strategies and information policies for GM products. A sample of Midwest consumers was administered one of two nearly identical conjoint questionnaires to identify the influence of attribute wording on consumer preferences. Respondents value “GM†negatively, while referring to the same attribute as “reduced environmental impact†(REI) results in a positive valuation. The inclusion of both the method of production (GM) and its specific benefits may provide consumers with more information with which to make choices among products.