Genetically modified salmon approved in US

United States regulators on Thursday approved a type of genetically-modified salmon as safe to eat, making it the first transgenic animal destined for American dinner tables. What’s that mean? It means that AquAdvantage Salmon will be the first genetically altered animal that can be legally sold in America’s grocery stores. So even if they do escape, they’re not supposed to be able to interbreed with other fish.

 

Some retailers have said they won’t sell the fish at all retailers Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target and Kroger have all said they are not planning to sell AquAdvantage Salmon.

 

The company sought the approval after claiming it had found a way to make Atlantic salmon grow twice as fast as normal by modifying eggs with genes from chinook salmon and an eel-like fish called the ocean pout.

 

In Thursday’s approval announcement, the FDA said the nutritional profile of the genetically modified AquAdvantage Salmon has no biologically relevant differences to the other Atlantic salmon that are farm-raised. The agency noted that it can only require labeling if there is a “material difference” between the GE food and its non-GE counterpart, which it did not find in AquAdvantage Salmon.

 

The approval of this salmon was held up by the Obama administration for more than 5 years because of consumer concerns about genetically modified foods. AquAdvantage Salmon was made by a MA company called AquaBounty.

 

The main advantage of most genetically engineered food, which includes plant crops such as corn and soybeans are efficient.

 

The FDA says it will provide oversight of both the production and facilities for the genetically modified salmon.

 

Activists who argue that the farm-raised salmon poses risks to the environment and public health say its clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will galvanize opponents to press for the fish to be labeled as genetically engineered.

 

The FDA said that it took them so long as it was one of a kind approval.

 

“The fallout from this decision will have enormous impact on the environment”, said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center for Food Safety, a group that opposes GMOS.

 

Owner Tim McClendon says some of the best salmon in the entire world is caught off the OR coast.

 

The Panamian and Canadian governments will work with the FDA to supervise the facilities and perform regular inspections.