• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권
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• pp.185-188
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• 2001

Genetically modified foods and food additives are derived from organisms that have been inserted foreign genetic materials by recombinant DNA techniques to improve the quality or any other pur-poses. The problems such as toxicity, allergenicity and antibiotics resistance in the safety of genetically modified foods are usually concerned. In Korea, the safety of foods is ensured by the Food Sanitation Act. Although there is no specific provision regarding the genetically modified foods in it, any foods that might cause negative effect(s) on public health or human life are prohibited to sell in the market. In order to systematically evaluate safety of genetically modified foods, the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) promulgated "Guidelines regarding review of safety assessment data for genetically modified foods and food additives (KFDA Notification 1999-46)". The objectives of these guidelines are to ensure safety of genetically modified foods and food additives. In order to evaluate the safety of genetically modified foods. KFDA operates a special expert committee composed by experts from government, universities, research institutes. and consumer's unions. Recently. manufacturers and consumers are interested in the issues on safety and labeling of genetically modified foods, because of increment of imported genetically modified crops and processed foods. Since government and consumers unions have different viewpoints, their positions regarding the issue are different each other. Therefore, the regulation of labeling on genetically modified foods is prepared and should be enforced at July 2000 in Korea. in Korea.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.89-102
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• 2002

Genetically modified foods may be defined as the foods deemed as safe by current technology among the many kinds of agricultural and stockbreeding products that are now under research and development using contemporary gene-modification techniques. This study examines hotly debated arguments, both for and against genetically modified- foods, in various countries. This study also investigates consumers'rights and responsibilities. Countries that are developing and exporting genetically modified organisms(GMO) have maintained that GMO can help produce more crops while reducing labor and other production-related costs, and that the genetically modified foods signify ″the second green revolution,″ which will solve future food and environmental problems by strengthening specific nutritive substances and extending shelf-life. But consumer groups, environmental organizations. and food-importing countries are more cautious about importing and consuming those foods because the potential dangers of GMO to human bodies and the environment have not been tested thoroughly yet. South Korea, following suit with others such as EU, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, introduced a law on 'Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods', which went in effect in March, 2001, on the basis of customers'rights to make informed choices. The law takes the ″precautionary principle″ into consideration, rather than stopping at insuring ″substantial equivalence″ in developing and consuming GM foods. The actual impact of the law will depend on the level of citizens'Participation more than on the government's willingness to carry out the law. So far the level of Korean consumers'consciousness about genetically modified foods is very low. Therefore, it is hard to expect consumers to exercise their ″rights not to buy″ foods that are potentially unsafe. The Korean government must devise an effective plan to inform and educate the people about the labeling of genetically modified foods.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.421-426
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of trust, knowledge, optimism, risk and benefits on consumer attitudes toward genetically modified foods. A total of 326 questionnaires were completed. Moderated regression analysis was used to measure the relationships among the variables. The analysis results for the data indicated a good model fit in Model 2 rather than Model 1, in which the direct effects of trust, optimism and benefits had statistically significant direct effects on the respondents' attitudes toward genetically modified foods, while the direct effects of knowledge and risk were not statistically significant. As expected, the interaction term of risk and benefit had a significant effect on consumer attitude. Moreover, the effect of risk on consumer's attitude toward genetically modified foods was statistically significant at all levels of benefit, except at the lower benefit level. Finally, the results of this study indicated that genetically modified food developers and marketers should attach importance to the interaction effect of benefits to understand the elements of market demand and customer loyalty.

• STI Policy Review
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.136-158
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• 2013

This study identifies the structural determinants of the social acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods across European countries. Toward this end, we suggest an integrated theoretical model to explain the social acceptance of GM foods by including both perception factors (perceived benefit, perceived risk, feelings, trust, and knowledge) and value factors (ethical concerns, science optimism, religiosity, and ideology). This model is then tested by analyzing survey data collected from 18,634 Europeans in 32 countries. The results indicate that first, not only perception factors but also value factors significantly contribute to explaining the acceptance of GM foods. Second, perceived benefits, perceived risk, feelings, and ethical concerns tend to be the four biggest determinants for acceptance. Third, this two-factor model could be generalized even with variation across countries. Finally, ethical concerns and scientific optimism play a moderating role between predictors and outcomes in the acceptance of GM foods.

• 한국식품조리과학회지
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• 제32권6호
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• pp.791-799
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• 2016

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of genetically modified (GM) food promotion and education through the blog. Methods: Education program for consumer-oriented GM foods by the blog was developed and survey was performed by the visitors for totals of twelve weeks. The blog was formed by information (definition, mark etc.) offering style and named as "Correct knowing of genetically modified organisms (GMO)." Event was held to enhance the promotion of the blog from the week 9 to week 12. Results: Visitors of the final week increased 4 times, as compared to those of the starting the event week 9. Most of the 138 consumers (94.5%) did not have prior GMO education experience. The 97 consumers aged 20 years old showed significantly the highest ratios in the experience of blog or website (p<0.01). Comparing before and after the blog education, notification on GM foods and willingness to buy GMO products, the benefit of GMO, willingness to check GMO mark when buying GMO products showed positive change of GM foods (p<0.05). Conclusion: Over 80% answered that the blog helped to understand the GM foods. Thus, we conclude using blog is effective way of GM food promotion and education and continuous efforts are needed to maintain an active blog for the consumer's rights of knowledge about GM foods.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제14권6호
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• pp.1150-1156
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• 2004

The GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) labeling system on raw materials has been in Korea since March 2001, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)-derived foods since July 2001. Therefore, we designed a multiplex PCR method to ascertain the validity of the labeling system and to monitor the status of circulation for genetically modified maize (GM Maize). Five lines of GM Maize (GA21, TC1507, Mon810, NK603, and Bt176) were used, and specific primer pairs were designed to detect each line. Using this method, the different lines of GM Maize were monitored from raw products and processed foods in Korean market. Some of the maize processed foods and raw materials were shown to contain more than one foreign gene. This method was found to be effective for-detecting five different GM Maize in a single reaction.

• 한국생활과학회지
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• 제24권3호
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• pp.387-406
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• 2015

This study was to investigate consumers' recognition, knowledge and purchase attitude on genetically modified(GM) foods in Daejeon area. Data of 283 questionnaires were analyzed by using the SPSS(Ver. 17.0)program. Most of the subjects were women (91.9%), distributed 30's(41.7%) or 40's(31.8%), and graduated from university(41.3%). The kinds of GM foods that many subjects had known were soybean, corn, tomatoes and potatoes. The subjects answered that there were GM foods in supermarket items were 71%. Consumers' recognition on the safety of GM foods was 'somewhat anxious'(65.4%). After confirming which their purchasing item is GM foods, 'they will buy it case by case'(60.1%) or 'they will never buy it'(27.9%). The most reason of never buying GM foods was 'harmful to health'(82.3%). The first reliable information sources on GM foods were medical institutes and professionals. The knowledges about GM foods were significantly higher in 20's and 'less than 1year' of marriage duration than the other groups(p<0.05). On the purchase attitude of GM foods, the 20's responded favorably compared to other groups (p<0.01). Subjects' opinion on the necessity of development on GM foods tended to higher in 40's and 'less than 2 million won' of monthly income than the other groups. For the reason about necessity of it's development, 'nutritional, functionality and quality improvement' was 53.7%. In conclusion, many consumers regard that GM foods is not yet safe for health. Accordingly, government and research institutes should examine thoroughly and research continuously for the safety of GM foods. They must announce to consumers accurate information about GM foods.

• 가정과삶의질연구
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.19-30
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• 2003

In this study, housewives' attitudes toward genetically modified foods (GM foods) and their willingness to purchase GM foods were examined. The findings of this study could provide useful information for consumer education and consumer policy development regarding GM foods. The specific purposes of this study were: (1) to examine consumers' attitudes toward GM foods, (2) to analyze the effect of the perception of GM foods and demographic variables on consumers' attitudes toward GM foods, and (3) to analyze the effect of the perception of GM foods and demographic variables on consumers' willingness to purchase GM foods. The questionnaire used in the survey was constructed by the author, based on existing literature. The survey was conducted with 1,100 housewives, and 723 of the completed survey forms were used in the final analysis. Frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviation, t-tests, ANOVA, Duncan-test, Pearson's Correlation, factor analysis, and discriminant analysis were employed for data analysis methods. Major findings are: (1) Consumers' attitudes toward GM foods consist of three factors, that are, attitude regarding potential danger, attitude regarding the use of GM technique on plants, and attitude regarding the use of GM technique on animals. (2) Consumers with a higher level of education tend to perceive GM food as more dangerous, whereas consumers with a lower level of education tend to accept more the use of GM technique on plants. (3) Consumers who tend not to consider GM foods as dangerous, and those who acknowledged benefits in using GM technique on plants are more willing to buy GM foods.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제17권
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• pp.167-171
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• 2001

The introduction of genetically modified crops has raised concerns regarding safety issues over the insertion of foreign genes into plant genomes using recombinant DNA technology. Since 1991 in Japan, 29 foods and 6 food additives have been evaluated, based on the "Guideline for Safety Assessment", before these foods were marketed. The MHW, however, decided that safety assessment of such foods and food additives should be legally imposed. because soon such foods and food additives are expected to circulate globally and a new system for assessing safety of such foods and food additives at a pre-market stage is necessary, in order to avoid the distribution of any genetically modified foods that have had no safety assessment. The MHW published relevant announcements to amend existing regulations on 1 May 2000. "Standards for safety assessment of seed plant" is established based on a concept of substantial equivalence, and applicable to the products which are regarded as equivalent to the existing products used as foods and food additives. The characterization of the food products entails consideration of the molecular characterization. phenotypic and compositional characteristics, key nutrients and toxicants, and toxicity and allergenicity of the introduced proteins, and if there are indications of unintended effects of the modification, whether further safety testing (animal studies etc.) is needed should be considered. Safety and wholesomeness studies with whole foods should be care fully designed in order to avoid nutritional imbalances causing artifacts and uninterpretable results as was the case of Dr. Pusztaiis report. A case study of genetically modified soybeans (glyphosate-tolerant soybeans) on the immune system of rats and mice is shown. Chemical compositions were also compared with those of the non-GM soybeans. The studies failed to detect any differences in immuno-toxic activity.muno-toxic activity.

• 한국식생활문화학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.657-672
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• 2011

This study was a survey of consumer awareness and attitudes about genetically modified foods and their labeling regulations. Questionnaires were distributed to 4,620 consumers who lived in different areas of Korea, and 4,076 people responded. The consumers were asked about knowledge, labeling information, and their sources of information about GM foods. Respondents from Seoul, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam answered mostly "nearly don't know > moderate > never know > know a little." Respondents from Gyeonggi answered "moderate > nearly don't know > never know > know a little." According to occupation, housewives, company employees, consultants, and students answered mostly "nearly don't know > moderate > never know > know a little. "Consumers answered about the intent to buy GM foods differently according to area, occupation, and education. Seoul and Gyeonggi residents said that reinforcing factors to relieve the insecurity of GM foods were "evaluating safety > management of GM foods by the government > GM food regulation system." There were other answers according to area, occupation, and education. About GM-related education methods that they wished to have, residents of the Seoul area said "books/leaflets" most often, but residents of the Gyounggi area said "attending a lecture" most often. Housewives also said "attending a lecture," but teachers and students said "Internetbased education" most often. About the kinds of education that they could join, Seoul residents answered "consumer groups > school parents > public institutions," but Gyeonggi and Chungnam area residents answered "public institutions > consumer groups > school parents." Housewives and students answered "consumer groups" most often, but consultants and private business owners answered "public institutions" most often. We realized that different education methods were necessary for different areas, occupations, and education levels.