Awareness and Acceptance Of Genetic Modified Food (GMF) Among The Malaysian Consumers

Published: Apr 30, 2020
Keywords:
genetic modified food (GMF), genetic modified organism (GMO), consumers, biotechnology

Main Article Content

Azlin A.M.Z
Baki R
Enio M.S.K
J. Ho Abdullah, S.

Abstract

The halal industry is growing vigorously to cater the Muslim consumers in Malaysia. The acceptance, awareness and perception towards the genetic modified food (GMF) is still insufficient to fulfil the Malaysian market and expectantly plays a major role in a long period. The purpose of this paper is to fill the knowledge gap to the study of GMF conducted in Malaysia. Qualitative data were collected via open-ended interview with four participants from various background namely Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) researcher, P3, P4 and P1 by using single case and different site. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed. Almost all participants familiar with the term genetic modified organism (GMO) or genetic modified food (GMF) which are two different entities but similar in biotechnology scope. Almost all participants were familiar with the term of genetic modified food.  Since most of the participants came out with the science and biotechnology background, they perceived the GMF product but some of them did not trust of these products for various reasons.  The participants agreed on the need for more information from a trusted and credible source that can easily access by the consumers. This study provides an in-depth insight into consumer’ awareness, perception and evaluation concerning the halalan toyyiban status of genetic modified food in Malaysia. The novelty of these finding could provide information for the biotechnology food industry to expand its market and develop its profitability and reliability to promo sustainable food production and consumption in the population.

Article Details

Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Azlin A.M.Z, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Faculty of Education

Baki R, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Faculty of Education

Enio M.S.K , Universiti Putra Malaysia

Faculty of Education

References

[2] A STUDY ON THE FORMULATION OF FATWA ON GENETICALLY
[3] Abdul Majid, Zainal Abidin, Mohd Abd Majid Tamby Chik. (2015). Issues of Halal Food Implementation in Malaysia souce from https://www.textroad.com/pdf/JAEBS/ J.%20Appl.%20Environ.%20Biol.%20Sci.,%205(6S)50-56, %202015.pdf. Accessed on 29 November 2017.
[4] Al Qudsi, S.G. (2014). Awareness and demand for 100% halal supply chain meat products. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 130, 167-178.
[5] Amin L. and Ibrahim R. (2011). How aware and knowledgeable are Malaysians of modern biotechnology? Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15, 3384–3388.
[6] Amy, Ellard-Gray, Nicole, KJ., Melisa, C. and Sara, EC. (2015). Finding the hidden participant: solutions for recruiting hidden, hard-to-reach, and vulnerable populations, International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 1–10.
[7] An overview of genetically modified crop and Marcel Djama.
[8] Biernacki, P. and Waldorf, D. (1981). Snowball sampling: Problem and techniques of chain referral sampling, Sociological Methods and Research, 10, 141–163.
[9] BIOETHICS IN THE MALAY-MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIA:
[10] BIOETHICS IN THE MALAY-MUSLIM COMMUNITY IN MALAYSIA:
[11] Dahlan-Taylor M. (2015). Good food: Islamic food ethics beyond religious dietary laws, Critical Research on Religion, 3 (3), 250–65.
[12] Damien, W. M., John, G. K., Andrea, I. David, K.H., David, F. Ermen and Tim, B. (2012). Social Stigma and Consumer Benefits Trade-Offs in Adoption of Genetically Modified Foods, Science Communication, 34(4), 487-519.
[13] Faugier J. and Sargeant M. (1997). Samping hard to reach populations, Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26, 790–797.
[14] Fauziah, A. (2013). Konsep Pendidikan Akhlak: Studi Komparasi Pada Pemikiran Imam Al Ghazali Dan Syed Muhammad Naquib Al Attas, Doctoral Dissertation, UIN Sunan Ampel, Surabaya.
[15] Ferdaus, H., Benjamin, O., Brian, S., William, H. and Adesoji, A. (2003). Product attributes, consumer benefits and public approval of genetically modified foods, International Journal of Consumer Studies, 27(5), 353–365.
[16] governance, issues and challenges in Malaysia
[17] Habibi-Najafi, M.B. (2006). Food biotechnology and its impact on our food supply, Biotechnology and Biochemistry, 1(1), 22-27.
[18] Heckathorn D. (1997). Respondent-driven sampling: A new approach to the study of hidden populations, Social Problems, 44, 174–199.
[19] Isa N.M. (2014). Memahami keutamaan dalam menilai makanan yang diubahsuai secara genetik (GMF) daripada perspektif Islam, Persidangan Kebangsaan Etika Kepenggunaan.
[20] Isa N.M. (2015). Bioethics in the Malay-Muslim community in Malaysia: A study on the formulation of fatwa on genetically modified food by the National Fatwa Council, Developing World Bioethics, 15(3), 143–151.
[21] Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) (2009). Keputusan muzakarah Jawatankuasa Fatwa Majlis Kebangsaan bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia. Putrajaya: Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia.
[22] Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) (2011). Hukum memakan makanan terubahsuai genetik (Genetic Modified Food) http://www.e-fatwa.gov.my/fatwa-kebangsaan/hukum-memakan-makananterubahsuai-genetik-genetic-modified-food. Accessed on 29 November 2017.
[23] Janis, Z.M. (2004). Malaysian Standard MS 1500: 2004 Halal Food-Production, Preparation, Handling and Storage-General Guidelines, Standards & Quality News July-August, 2-3.
[24] Lynn, J.F., Chaya, H., Richard, S. (1995). Genetic engineering and food: what determines consumer acceptance? British Food Journal, 97(8), 31-36.
[25] MODIFIED FOOD BY THE NATIONAL FATWA COUNCI
[26] MODIFIED FOOD BY THE NATIONAL FATWA COUNCI
[27] Salganik MJ. and Heckathorn DD. (2004). Sampling and estimation in hidden populations using respondent-driven sampling, Sociological Methodology, 34, 193–239.
[28] Sazelin, A. and Safiahm S. (2015). Application of Halalan Toyyiban in the Standard Reference for Determining Malaysian Halal Food source from http://www.ccsenet.org/j ournal/index.php/ass/article/viewFile/49684/26783. Accessed on 29 November 2017.
[29] Selvarajah, K., Che Musa, C.O., Irsyad, Z., Nazreen, S., Sharifah Alyaa. (2017). The Awareness of Gen Z’s toward Halal Food Industry, Management, 7(1), 44-47.
[30] Zurina S. and W.M.N. Wan Siti Khadijah (2012). Halal Traceability Framework for Halal Food Production sources from http://www.thaihalalfoods.com/upload/articles/Researc h6.pdf. Accessed on 12 November 2017.