Given the facts, Americans trust science. Bioengineering.

The ongoing debate concerning the safety and environmental impact of genetically modified foods is complex and multifaceted, but research shows that American consumers are able to separate the wheat from the chaff when presented with science-based information. Charles Santerre, an associate professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., surveyed 576 people to see how their knowledge and attitudes toward genetically enhanced foods changed after receiving an hour of training on food biotechnology. The results showed that a positive, science-based message can be delivered efficiently in a way the public understands.

"Consumer education is an important aspect in the adoption of any new technology, and especially so when it comes to safe, economical food production," he points out. "Without a fundamental understanding of the science behind food biotechnology, it's very difficult for consumers to discern between credible and false information."

The study participants were asked a series of questions about their knowledge of, and attitude toward, genetically modified foods before and after attending an hour-long educational presentation on the subject. The training included information on how bioengineered crops are created, the environmental impact of growing them, the criteria used by Federal agencies to evaluate and approve them, which genetically enhanced foods are currently sold in grocery stores, the safety of these foods for consumers, and the potential benefits to be gained as the technology advances. Santerre found that, prior to training, 31% of the participants believed that genetically enhanced crops were properly...