Julie A. Caswell
University of Massachusetts

The use of biotechnology can affect the actual and perceived quality of food products through its effect on an array of intrinsic quality attributes. Buyers may agree or differ on which of these effects creates high or low quality products. Labeling is an extrinsic cue that informs buyers, although imperfectly, about intrinsic quality characteristics.

Key words: GMOs; quality assurance; labeling.