Genetically-Engineered Salmon Headed for Our Plate?

The Food and Drug Administration recently completed three days of hearings and public comment on the effort by AquaBounty Technologies to market farm-raised salmon that’s been genetically modified to grow twice as fast as normal salmon. These fish have a growth hormone from a close relative, the Chinook salmon, inserted into them.

The hearings, conducted by an independent panel, ended without the FDA reaching a decision on whether the Massachusetts company can proceed with sales of the “frankenfish,” which it calls AquaAdvantage salmon. Next steps include an Environmental Assessment of the salmon, followed by a mandated 30-day comment period. The agency says it has not set a timeline for making a decision on whether to allow AquaBounty to move forward with sales.

If the FDA were to give its approval, it would be about two years before these AquaAdvantage salmon would reach the market. It would be the first such scientifically altered animal food product to reach our dinner plates.

The two primary issues are whether the salmon would be safe to eat, and would it be safe for the environment.

FDA staff had previously issued a report, finding the genetically-engineered salmon to be as safe to eat as normal salmon.

But some critics of the report felt the safety tests should have included more data. One of the chief concerns is what would happen if these fast-growing fish were to somehow escape into the ocean and breed with other “natural” salmon.

The words “genetically modified” or “genetically engineered” raise red flags for many people—and when hormones are mentioned in connection with foods like meat and dairy products, additional alarm bells go off for many.

On the other hand, we’ve all heard about the dwindling numbers of Atlantic salmon and other species in the ocean today. Salmon that grow to maturity in half the time would likely help ease some of these overfishing issues.

Take the nutrition quiz on frankenfish and other GMOs (genetically modified organisms):http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/10/08/1658714/nutrition-quiz-frankenfish-and.html