Scientists Explore Consumer Response to Health Information Campaigns and Genetically Modified Food Labels

Scientist Michael Weir from the University of Rhode Island (URI) conducted a study to investigate consumer responses to two forms of information provision in the seafood market: health information campaigns and GM food labels. The paper is published in URI's Open Access Dissertations.

Using information from a seafood auction experiment, Weir explored the sources of differences in the responses of the auction participants to health information in the context of current US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services policy goals using a mixed effects finite mixture model. He also explored the potential effect of the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard on seafood demand.

Two distinct groups of consumers were identified: the "trust academics", wherein most of the sample fall under; and the "specialty store shoppers", who significantly respond to seafood health risk campaigns. The trust academics group is receptive to both risk- and benefit-focused information campaigns. The specialty store shoppers trust the information provided by social influences.

Read more results in URI's Open Access Dissertations.