MOSCOW, June 5 (RIA Novosti) – The majority of Russians prefer organic products to their cheaper and more visually appealing GMO counterparts, which also have a longer shelf life, a survey by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM) shows.
Seventy-four percent of those surveyed said they would rather choose organic products over GMOs, even if genetically modified groceries are cheaper. Seventy-six percent of respondents said they prefer organic products to their more visually appealing GMO counterparts, while 78% percent said they would buy organic food even knowing that GMOs have a longer shelf-life.
About a third of those surveyed believe that meat products contain GMOs, while one-in-five thought GMOs are found in vegetables, fruits and grains.
The survey also found that half of those polled would not want to buy products containing artificial preservatives. Many are biased against food dyes (40%) and soybeans (38%). A quarter of respondents would not purchase products with emulsifiers (28%) and sodium nitrate (24%).
The opinion poll was conducted on May 24-25, 2014, with pollsters interviewing 1,600 people in in 42 regions and a margin of error of no greater than 3.4 percent.
In April, the Ministry of Education and Science drafted a bill aimed at tightening control over GMO-based products in the country. According to the bill, the import of GMOs into Russia could be prohibited should such products fail to pass the necessary inspections.
