Consumer Acceptance of Biotechnology: Lessons From the rbST Experience

Lorna M. Aldrich and Noel Blisard

No 33663, Agricultural Information Bulletins from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: The controversial introduction of rbST, a laboratory version of bST, a growth hormone that stimulates milk production in cows, may provide hopeful lessons for other foods produced by biotechnology. Milk sales remained steady after rbST became available to dairy farmers, even though a multitude of public opinion surveys documented widespread concern about food safety and biotechnology, and some analysts predicted a drop in milk consumption of up to 20 percent. The undiminished consumer demand for milk may indicate that consumers will also accept other animal food products from biotechnology. The rbST experience suggests that, while scientific evidence of food safety will not prevent controversy over biotech foods, controversy will not necessarily inhibit consumer demand for the food.

Keywords: Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 6
Date: 1998
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uersab:33663

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.33663

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