Opposition and Acceptance of GM-food and GM-medicine

Abstract

European citizens are quite happy to use genetically modified medicine, while they are rather critical towards genetically modified food. In this paper, we analyse philosophical and conceptual reasons for and against this asymmetry in the attitudes of Europeans. Moreover, we consider the justifiability of this difference in attitudes. We conclude that all GM-foods and all GM-medicines do not differ dramatically with respect to their intended purposes and outcomes - at least the ones associated with the saving of human lives. However, people worry far more about the possible undesirable health related, environmental, and social side-effects of GM-food than those of GM-medicine. This may be explained partly by differences in experienced trust in actors and authorities within these two industries, and partly by differences in production procedures. The asymmetry in people's views can also be explained by the different roles food and medicine play in our daily lives. Food is usually associated with values that contradict genetic modification, whereas in the case of medicine values compatible with genetic modification usually prevail. Moreover, food is more intimately related to our social life and personal life choices than medicine. Some life styles adopted by people restrict the use of GM-food, whereas life style restrictions on GM-medicine are considerably rarer. Thus, the asymmetry in people's attitudes concern- ing GM-food and GM-medicine may well be justified and rational - at least from the point of view of the deeper values and beliefs people hold.