More than 70% of consumers in Brazil would not have any restrictions related to consumption of transgenic wheat, according to a survey seen by Reuters that is changing companies’ perception about whether to sell GMO wheat in Brazil.
The survey breaks a paradigm in Brazil under which consumers in the South American country would be against consuming genetically modified (GMO) wheat after its recent approval in Argentina.
Brazil is a net importer of wheat, and most of it comes from its southern neighbor.
Last year, Brazil became the first country to allow imports of flour made with GMO wheat from Argentina, though immediate shipments were seen as unlikely due to opposition from local millers.
The survey, conducted in December by Indexsa, interviewed 3,135 people in 12 state capitals.
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Abimapi, an association representing biscuit, pasta, bread and cake makers, was initially against the adoption of transgenic wheat here, but changed its stance after the survey, which it commissioned.
“The survey showed that more than 70% of people consume genetically modified foods or will consume them without any problem,” Abimapi’s chief executive, Claudio Zanao, told Reuters. “So the association’s position has changed, we are not going to be against consumers.”
