The image problem of genetically modified food is underscored by contrast to organic foods. Indeed a plurality of men think these foods are safe, while women disagree by better than 2-1. Similarly, while 49 percent of men say they'd be less likely to buy food labeled as genetically modified, that jumps to 65 percent of women. But a bare majority of young adults still calls genetically modified foods unsafe. There's also a political difference.
Republicans divide evenly on whether genetically modified foods are safe or unsafe.
Genetic modification of foods has been in development since the 1980s, inciting heated argument pro and con. A variety of genetically modified crops has been approved by the FDA for general use, and it's reviewing an application to market genetically modified fish. Starlink, a genetically modified corn that is approved for use in animal feed but not for human consumption, made its way into human foods last year. The government reported last week that Starlink did not cause allergic reactions in people who reported health problems after eating it. The results have a three-point margin of error.