Canadian Press Coverage of Genetically Modified Foods

Irena Knezevic

Articles discussing genetically modified foods were selected from eleven major Canadian newspapers, all owned by Southam Papers. All the articles were printed between July 2001 and June 2002. The coverage was found to promote such foods and emphasize their potential benefits.

The lack of public knowledge about these products was highlighted whereas the lack of such knowledge on behalf of producers was underplayed. All eleven papers seemed to support corporate interests and attempt to undermine the image of the opponents of genetically modified food. Where the potential risks were mentioned, the responsibility for consumer protection was laid on the government, rather than the producers.

Full Paper

Source
Presented at the First Annual Conference for Social Research in Organic Agriculture. Guelph, Ontario. January 2004


Author Location and Affiliation
Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Windsor, irenaknezevic@hotmail.com


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