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Knowledge and acceptance of transgenic foods in adolescents of Imbabura, Ecuador

Abstract:

Background: Acceptance level of transgenic foods (TF) should be based in an appropriate knowledge of them, as well as its risks and benefits. In this paper we evaluated the knowledge and acceptance of TF by high school students of the Imbabura Province, Ecuador. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1254 adolescents from 46 schools of Imbabura, Ecuador. We used a validated questionnaire to value the knowledge and acceptance of TF in this study. Results: 18.3% of teens say they know what a TF, being female teenagers, mestizos, people who come from families with higher levels of education and students from private schools who had better knowledge of the TF (p< 0.05). Of this group, 5.2% defined the TF correctly and adolescents who said to known would be willing to buy it. Those who said knew TF would be willing to buy, consume and recommend its use. Economics interests (10%), nutritional problems (6.1%) and to fight hunger (4.3%) were identified as reasons that TF are produced. Adolescents are agreed to receive more information and required the labeling of these products. Conclusions: Surveyed population shows a low knowledge and acceptance of TF and they have a high pbkp_redisposition to get more information about this product.