Only three percent correctly answered that GMO stands for genetically modified organisms, finds the poll by the Pentor/TNS.
Sixty six percent couldn't answer the question.
The Copernicus Science Centre presented the findings of the poll on Wednesday as part of Project Genesis, devoted to achievements in biotechnology.
48 percent told the pollsters that they had never even come across the acronym.
However, biochemist Professor Magdalena Fikus from the Copernicus Centre believes that given that awareness of genetically modified organisms only took root in Poland ten years ago, knowledge is comparatively high.
“Knowledge in Poland on the subject of GMO is growing significantly,” she told the Polish Press Agency.
“About 20 percent know more about GMO than ten years ago,” she said.
Respondents were also asked to pinpoint which items from a list were genetically modified. The list included soya beans, corn, bacteria, canola and a cow.
Corn proved the most popular association with GMO, and to a lesser degree soya beans.
However 23 percent gave the wrong answer, singling out the cow.
The poll was carried out in January this year on a sample of 1005.
Seed law
Earlier this month, MPs heard the first reading of an amended law on GM seeds following President Bronislaw Komorowski vetoing a bill last August that he said was incompatible with the EU's rules on the issue.
Poland currently bans the use of GM seeds in food or other agricultural production but does allow the import of GM-related products.
The August bill had been prepared after a 2006 law banning GM crops in Poland was referred to the EU Court of Justice for failing to comply with EU policy.
The EU has one of the most restrictive laws on GM in the world, only allowing products to be introduced onto the market on a case-by-case basis.
Though President Komorowski said that there “was no evidence that GMO was harmful to human health” a key phrase in the bill, which unilaterally disallows GM seeds in Poland, was taken out of the original bill by MPs, leaving the law ambiguous. (pg/nh)