Genetically engineered and irradiated foods -- attitudes held by Dietitians

摘要

A mail survey to assess attitudes and knowledge levels held by Registered Dietitians (RDs) in Iowa (N = 767) toward genetically engineered and irradiated foods was conducted. Responses (35 percent) from 269 RDs were analyzed. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: attitudes (51 items), knowledge (30 items), and demographic information. Respondents rated agreement with positively and negatively phrased attitude statements using a five-point Likert-type scale (5 = Strongly Agree). Response options of "True," "False," and "Unsure" were presented to participants in the knowledge section. Demographic information was collected using open-ended and categorical questions. Mean ratings of 30 attitudes statements toward genetically engineered foodsranged from 2.35 to 4.28, with an overall mean rating of 3.34. Iowa RDs indicated an interest (M = 4.20) in learning more about irradiated foods, but indicated the need for more research on irradiation before commercial use with a mean rating of 3.03. Over 50 percent of respondents answered 11 of 15 knowledge statements about genetically engineered foods correctly with an overall mean score of 8.90. The statement correctly answered least frequently was about labeling of genetically engineered foods (17.1 percent). Of 15 knowledge statements about irradiated foods (M = 7.30), three statements which dealt with outcomes of food irradiation were answered correctly by over 70 percent of respondents.