Monday, April 13, 2015

Consumers willing to spend more for biotech potato products



                Acrylamide is a chemical compound that studies have linked to the formation of cancer in animals. It naturally accumulates in starchy foods cooked at high temperatures like coffee beans, roasted nuts and the crusts of breads. The largest sources of acrylamide consumption in the United States are potato products such as french fries and chips. Potato growers have attempted conventional plant breeding techniques to cut down on the formation of acrylamide, but biotechnology and genetic modification have yielded more promising results.
                Genetically modified food has sparked controversy among some, but with a healthier option to potato products that may potentially cause cancers it’s interesting to see how consumers would react. At Iowa State University, researchers have attempted to gauge consumer attitudes toward genetically modified potato products. The results show that consumers that received information on the dangers associated with acrylamide exposure and potato products were willing to spend more on the genetically modified potato products. It’s worth noting that social and demographic concerns did not seem to matter regarding willingness to pay for genetically modified products. The findings underscore the importance of educating the public on the use of biotechnology in the production of healthful food. Although there seems to be a stigma towards genetically modified food this research shows the potential benefits it could bring.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/03/150316160339.htm    


http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/causes-prevention/risk/diet/acrylamide-fact-sheet

4 comments:

  1. I feel like the concern over genetically modified foods isn't as bad as most people make it out to be. With things like this, it could provide benefits that they wouldn't get normally. As long as you know what exactly has been put into the food and the effects it might cause, then it doesn't seem like a bad thing to me. It may cost a little more, but some could be better in the long run.

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  2. I don't believe that the majority of the population will pay more for genetically modified products even if they are healthier. It seems that most people can not afford to pay for organic food products, although they have been proven to be healthier. Money always seems to be an issue in these matters and it doesn't seem that most of the population thinks of their futures before they buy. This is not the case for everyone, in fact I would spend more money if it meant a healthier life in the future.

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  3. I agree with Toni Collins that money is always a concern when buying food for your family. This article says that different demographics all say they would pay more for healthier genetically modified food, but the people in low income demographics face this issue every day. They must pick between food for their children that is unhealthy, but will give them 3 meals a day or 1 meal a day where the prices for healthy foods are so high.

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  4. In my opinion, genetically modifying food products is not ideal, but often necessary when dealing with mass production to address the issue of feeding millions of people. It may or may not be healthier to consume nature as it is, but conclusive evidence needs to be found first before making decisions on a larger scale.

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