How Genetically Engineered Salmon Are Made

As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, the FDA completed an environmental assessment to determine whether approval of the application would result in significant effects on the quality of the human environment in the United States. The genetically modified fish, called “AquAdvantage” salmon, were engineered by AquaBounty Technologies of Maynard, Massachusetts, to express higher levels of a growth hormone than wild salmon. The FDA has jurisdiction over genetically modified plants and animals because the recombinant DNA that is introduced into them meets the definition of a drug.

The FDA scientists rigorously evaluated extensive data submitted by the manufacturer, AquaBounty Technologies, and other peer-reviewed data, to assess whether AquAdvantage salmon met the criteria for approval established by law; namely, safety and effectiveness. AquaAdvantage will use several types of containment structures to prevent the fish from leaving their enclosures. There are a few requirements; however, they only can be raised in land-based, contained hatchery tanks, and those are only found in two specific facilities in Canada and Panama.

Currently, the federal government does not require foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to be labeled, so it’s unlikely that once this fish hits the market consumers will know if they’re buying and eating the AquAdvantage fish. Furthermore, the salmon are engineered to be sterile, although that sterility was said not to be completely “foolproof”.

In a statement, the company said the approval will be beneficial to consumers and the environment.

The agency says nutritionally, there is no difference between natural and genetically modified salmon, and regulators will not require special labeling for the genetically engineered fish.

However, even with the FDA’s careful deliberation and approval, as well as the safety measures presented, The Center for Food Safety had already expressed its concern over the agency’s decision to approve the AguaAdvantage Salmon. This makes the AquAdvantage grow twice as fast as a natural-born salmon, making it more appealing to fish sellers. The other ingredient is the growth hormone taken from the Pacific Chinook salmon, which is a salmon specie that grows faster than other salmon species.

The FDA said that it will be issuing guidance to companies on how to label products voluntarily, if they want to.

A few have voiced support for the FDA’s decision, saying it will have a positive impact on the environment.

Johnson said farmers have used selective breeding for decades to get the same desired effects.

A Friends of the Earth spokeswoman said: “We will continue to work to ensure the market, from grocery retailers to restaurants, continues to listen to the majority of consumers that don’t want to eat this poorly studied, unlabelled genetically engineered fish”.