People's apathy could be the main nanotechnology block

Consumers show lack of understanding and indifference, rather than opposition

Nanotechnology could be more widely welcomed by consumers once they know more about it, a Food Manufacture poll shows, as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) examines the science's pros and cons.

People could miss out by being biased against nanotechnology through lack of understanding, according to more than half the men participating in the Harris Interactive online poll of 2,000 people. A total of 52% came to that conclusion, versus 42% of women. Surprisingly, 51% of both sexes aged 55+ agreed with that verdict, the highest proportion of any age group.

Overall, the research showed consumers were more indifferent to nanotechnology than opposed to it, as recent press articles suggest. Of all the ages, 16 to 25-year-olds were most likely to see nanotechnology in a positive light. In all cases, men were better disposed towards it than women.

The poll results follow the Soil Association's ban on nanoparticles in all its certified organic products.

The EFSA's Scientific Committee is preparing an initial opinion for the European Commission on the need for specific risk assessment approaches for nanotechnology applications in food and feed. EFSA must identify the nature of possible hazards and give guidance on the data needed for the risk assessment of such technologies and applications. It has set up a working group to look into the issues and expects to publish a draft opinion for public consultation in July 2008 and a final opinion in the autumn.

Separately, voluntary guidance on labelling for food manufacturers and other companies using nanotechnology will be launched this month by the British Standards Institute (BSI).

Although nanotechnology is already used in the food industry, there is no legal definition of nanoparticles or requirement for them to be labelled or approved as novel ingredients or additives.

Given the potential for nanotechnology to turn into a PR disaster for industry unless labelling and safety issues are addressed, a BSI working group was set up last year to look at labelling options. Chairman Geoff Hunt, professor of ethics at the University of Surrey, said: "It might be a case of using a phrase such as 'this contains nanoparticles of titanium dioxide'."

Lecturing at the Royal Society last month, Dr Frans Kampers, a researcher at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, said the most interesting applications in nanotechnology involved targeted delivery of key nutrients.

In future, it would be possible to create nano-structures that release nutrients at exactly the right place in the body, he said.