The Survey of General Information About GMOs, an Essential Approach to Biosafety: A Case Study of Students in Kermanshah Educational Centers

The use of genetically modified organisms, their benefits, risks, safety and limitations are the subject of scientific, political and social debates in various countries, especially developed and developing countries. An important issue with technologies is the limitations of transmitting general concepts of knowledge. Consumers of transgenic products (GMOs) have a right to have comprehensive information about these products, but they seem to have been misinformed with conflicting views and sentimentality. The present study uses a descriptive questionnaire to examine the level of information and general knowledge of students in educational centers of Kermanshah province (n= 1000) in two genders and different fields of study in relation to different applications of GMOs. 100% of the people wanted to establish and implement strict national and international laws and ethics by policymakers and manufacturers. The study groups had different information and the total information was especially significant in relation to labeling with 25.65% and potential impact on health with 18.73% (P<0.05). Social networks were also the most source of information with 52% (P<0.05). The present study emphasizes the need to develop evidence-based and educational-scientific programs to increase general knowledge about the possibilities, limitations, advantages and disadvantages of GMOs technology.