Positive consumer attitudes regarding biotechnology are back on an upward trend after a slight slump last fall. This is according to the latest International Food Information Council (IFIC) survey, conducted from May 5 to 9, 2000 by Wirthlin Worldwide. Since October 1999, consumers are somewhat more likely to buy foods that have been enhanced to "taste better or fresher" (54 percent), or foods that have been modified for insect protection and to require less pesticide spray (69 percent).

The survey was conducted just after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reaffirmed that it would not require mandatory labeling of foods produced through biotechnology. According to the IFIC survey, nearly two out of three (69 percent) consumers support the FDA's labeling policy. This confidence in the FDA position has remained relatively stable over the past 3 years, despite increasing controversy about food biotechnology.

Eighty-seven percent of consumers surveyed agreed that education through toll-free numbers, brochures, and websites would provide better sources of information than food labels. FDA has responded well to consumer opinion, as evidenced by its recent proposed rules to maintain the current voluntary labeling policy for biotech foods.

Although unfounded fears about agricultural biotechnology have received attention, three out of five consumers believe that they will benefit from biotechnology within the next 5 years. Indeed, scientific evidence supports the safety and many benefits of agricultural biotechnology.