Transgênicos na alimentação: nível de conhecimento dos consumidores de Serrinha – BA

Abstract

Genetically modified organisms for agricultural purposes have been increasing ever more significantly over the years, with products grown for human consumption with GM raw material having grown significantly. The number of products that have a raw material of transgenic origin is increasing on the Brazilian supermarket shelves and it is not known exactly what level of information and positioning the population has about it. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the level of understanding of the consumers of Serrinha in Bahia on the transgenics and their presence in food. For the accomplishment of the work, structured interviews were applied to 30 women and 19 men, approached in three supermarkets. The results demonstrate the basic knowledge of the interviewees about transgenics. 53% of men and 83% of women and 71% of respondents have heard of transgenics, but only 53% say they know what transgenics are, including 32% of men and 67% of women. Only 39% of respondents know how to differentiate products with and without transgenics; among men, this number is still lower, 32% and among women, 43%. With the realization of the research, it was possible to notice that most consumers have already heard about GMOs, they know what they are, they observe the existence of the identification symbol, they know what the symbol represents, but they still do not know how to differentiate a product with GMOs from GMOs. without transgenics in its composition.