Cher Nutrition

Barbara’s Bulletin: Genetically Modified Salmon May Soon End Up On Your Dinner Plate

September 5, 2010 at 8:03 pm Leave a comment

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been introduced into our fruits, vegetables, and processed foods fairly quietly in the U.S., however, Americans may feel less comfortable with the introduction of genetically modified animals.   This week the NY Times reported that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved that it is safe to eat salmon that has been genetically altered.  As a result the first GMO animal may be appearing in American supermarkets very soon.

AquAdvantage salmon, the fish in question, is able to grow to full size in half the time of farmed Atlantic salmon due to an added growth hormone extracted from the ocean pout fish. The company paving the way for the AquAdvantage salmon, AquaBounty, also wants to introduce faster growing tilapia and trout in the upcoming years. Faster growing fish may mean a quicker return for fish farmers, however, introducing this fish into our food supply isn’t without its controversies.  Even though the AquAdvatage salmon are supposed to be sterile, critics of this technology fear that the genetically modified salmon might still escape into the wild, mate with normal salmon, and disrupt their natural genes and the environment.  Another concern is that the additional growth hormone inserted into the fish increases the fish’s natural insulin-like growth factor 1, a hormone that when elevated has been associated with increasing cancer risks.  Finally, the FDA concluded that AquAdvantage salmon was safe for consumption based on a sample of at most a few dozen fish using data provided by their producer, AquaBounty.

In the upcoming weeks the FDA will be debating whether the AquAdvantage salmon will appear behind fish counters and whether they will require labeling to inform consumers the fish has been genetically modified.  If you are concerned about the incorporation of GM salmon into our food supply, or that it may or may not be labeled, write a letter or send e-mail to the FDA voicing your concerns.  Or check out these websites for petitions against AquAdvantage salmon. https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=610 or https://secure3.convio.net/aahf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=607

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