FDA Approves GE Foods, But Keeps Consumers In The Dark!

By Theodora Filis

California introduced a bill requiring any AquaBounty's genetically engineered salmon sold in the state to be clearly labeled for the public, together with Alaska senators who reintroduced their bills, one to ban the GE animal from being cultivated in Alaskan waters and one to require that it be labeled.

AquaAdvantage salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies is an Atlantic salmon modified with genes from a Chinook salmon and an ocean pout, which makes for a faster-growing fish that requires 10 percent less feed. Regardless of a wary public, a protest letter by 11 Pacific Northwestern senators, and strong warnings by an overwhelming amount of government scientists and public interest groups, the FDA looks to be moving closer to approving the salmon.

Just like any other GMO, this salmon is a patented product. Once fishermen own the product -- or their waters are unintentionally contaminated with the product -- they'll have to continue purchasing it to continue using it. Just as GM corn seeds can't be saved, these salmon won't breed on their own. And as opponents have warned, there's no telling if they're safe for human consumption, as the FDA has not conducted adequate testing.

Concerns, such as fish escaping and breeding with other salmon, have been raised about the AquAdvantage salmon. It may also cause additional harm to the environment, causing more waste than “regular” salmon.

Because of this, the salmon have to be engineered to be sterile, another GMO-use. And AquaBounty claims that using this wouldn’t cause more planet farms, but instead “help reduce pressure on wild fish stocks suffering from over-fishing.”

AquaBounty is confident of a positive ruling soon from the FDA, given the agency’s previous approval of the salmon.

Anticipating the FDA approval of AquaBounty salmon, lawmakers from Alaska, Oregon, and Washington have introduced a backup plan to protect American consumers and wild fish populations.

The Alaskan bipartisan bills come from senators Mark Begich (D-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). "Frankenfish threatens our wild stocks, their habitat, our food safety and would bring economic harm to Alaska's wild salmon fishermen," said Begich The fish are "risky, unprecedented and unnecessary," he adds.

The bill to ban GMO fish is co-sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington). The bill requiring labeling, should GE fish get approved, is co-sponsored by Sen. Murray and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon).

If that fails, an alternate bill (Bill# S. 229/H.R. 520) would require companies to at least put a sticker on any product that contains frankenfish to let Americans know what they are eating.

"Frankenfish is uncertain and unnecessary," said one representative. "The assessments of these 'fish' are flawed at best and the threat to the population of our wild salmon stock is unacceptable."

Consumers, who have the purchasing power, have the right to know if they are eating sterile fish spliced with the growth hormone of a Chinook and the genetic code of an ocean pout.

Suggested Reading:
Genetically Engineered Salmon No Laughing Matter
FDA Caught Hiding The Truth About GMO Salmon
Genetically Modified Fish: It's What's For Dinner!