Objective and subjective knowledge: impacts on consumer demand for genetically modified foods in the United States and the European Union

In the growing body of literature concerning consumer acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods, there are significant differences in conclusions about the impact of knowledge on such acceptance. One potential explanation for these differences is the manner in which knowledge is measured. This paper first provides a review of the literature on objective and subjective knowledge, and reviews previous studies investigating the relationship between knowledge and acceptance of GM foods. Next, the goal of this study is to differentiate and examine the impact of both subjective and objective knowledge related to acceptance of genetically modified foods. Data from surveys collected in the United States, England, and France is used. Our findings suggest that knowledge should not be viewed as a unidimensional construct, and the way in which knowledge is measured significantly impacts the relationship with consumers willingness to accept GM foods.