A Eurobarometer survey on food safety reveals that in reality, most
Europeans hardly care about genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The
survey reports that 'genetically modified ingredients in food and drink'
have a comparatively low level of concern associated with them (27%), being
number 8 of the 15 specified concerns on the list. The Special Eurobarometer
was commissioned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to get
insights on Europeans' overall interest in food safety.

The survey's main observations are the following:

* In reality, most Europeans hardly care about GMOs Even when
prompted with a list of topics starting with GMOs, a mere 27% are concerned
by GMOs. Only in one-quarter of the member states, this level is over
one-third. The regularly promoted narrative that "90% of Europeans are
concerned about GMOs" is therefore bogus.
* Concern about GMOs has more than halved in nine years. The level of
reported concern has decreased enormously from 66% in 2010 to 27% in 2019. A
very significant reduction occurred in each of the 28 Member States, and in
nine, there was even a reduction by a factor of three or more.
* Genome editing is the least of all concerns in the survey. Out of
the 15 topics in the survey, genome editing is the one people are clearly
the least concerned about (4%), and it is also the topic that people are
least aware of (22%).

The survey also reveals that scientists enjoy the highest trust ratings
(82%) in Europe. The EU-wide survey was conducted by the Kantar network in
the 28 EU Member States in April 2019 where 27,655 respondents from
different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face at
home in their mother tongue.

[www.efsa.europa.eu]