Title: Impact of genetically modified food on health of consumers in India

Authors: Mohd Farhan; Tufail Ahmad Khan; Andualem Ayalew

Addresses: Mittal School of Business, Lovely Professional University, Punjab, 144411, India ' College of Business and Economic, Mizan-Tepi University, Ethiopia ' Management Department, College of Business and Economics, Mizan-Tepi University, Ethiopia

Abstract: The aim of this investigation is to understand the effects of genetically modified food on the health of consumers in the area of Yavatmal, a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. This knowledge is essential since genetically modified (GM) foods are newly introduced in India. GM cotton is publically available; however, approval for GM Brinjal and GM mustard is still pending in India. To understand the impact of GM food consumption on the health of consumers, a survey was organised in Yavatmal district in Maharashtra among 350 consumers of GM cotton and its by-products (like cotton oil) and 350 consumers of non-GM cotton and the by-products. This study also observed the health of 125 livestock that eats GM food and 91 livestock that eat non-GM food. The collected information was analysed with t-test along with the descriptive statistics. Results of this investigation show that GM food consumers were less affected by any health-related problems than non-GM food users. This study is useful for policymakers to prepare the most favourable policy for different stakeholders of GM food.

Keywords: health; consumers; food; livestock; diseases; GM cotton; Yavatmal; India; pesticide.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2018.093995

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2018 Vol.14 No.2, pp.204 - 220

Received: 25 Feb 2018
Accepted: 13 May 2018

Published online: 10 Aug 2018 *

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