Assessment of the Awareness, Acceptance, and Willingness of Bahraini Public to Consume Genetically Modified Food
S. M. Zakir Hossain *
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bahrain, P.O.Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain
Nahid Sultana
Department of Computer Science, Building 600, Main Campus, University of Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Elamin Mohammed Ali Elkanzi
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bahrain, P.O.Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain
Maram M. Ali Habib
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bahrain, P.O.Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain
Noor Ebrahim Ahmed
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Bahrain, P.O.Box 32038, Kingdom of Bahrain
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Assessment of the perception and willingness of public to buy genetically modified food are important areas of empirical research in food science and agricultural economics. In this paper, the results of a questionnaire survey conducted to investigate the awareness, acceptance, and willingness of Bahraini public to buy GM food are described. A total of 410 responses were collected and the data were analyzed using statistical software, SPSS. A logit model was also developed to examine the possible determinants that significantly affect the consumption of GM food. The results indicate that a majority of the participants are not aware of GM food and are oblivious to whether they consume them or not. They expect the government/food regulatory agency to ensure appropriate labeling and proper monitoring of GM food. In addition, the consumers are not ready yet to accept GM food due to lack of pertinent information about them.
Keywords: GM food, logit models, determinants, Bahraini public