Genetically Modified Crops’ Environmental Impact and Trust in Eco-labels
Lynn Eunjung Kwak, Sang Won Yoon, Younjun Kim
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects companies to disclose genetically modified (GM) ingredients in foods and beverages by January 2022. While food companies fear that the stigma of GM labels could cause GM food sales to decline, eco-labeling could lessen the impact of GM-labeling. The results of the present research indicate that neither the eco-labeling alone nor the eco-labeling accompanied by information about the environmental benefits of GM crops influence consumers’ willingness to buy. Based on the mediation analysis, however, trust of eco-labels mediates the relationship between GM foods’ environmental friendliness information and consumers’ willingness to buy eco-labeled GM food. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.