FDA OKs genetically engineered salmon

“The FDA’s approval of genetically engineered salmon – the first ever genetically altered animal to be sold in USA supermarkets – opens the flood gates to more modified meats and seafood being sold nationwide without a label”.

“The labeling battle is a particularly big deal”, said Dana Perls, food and technology campaigner for Friends of the Earth.

The federal agency approved the genetically modified fish, saying it is safe for humans to consume.

The salmon, called AquAdvantage is a genetically modified version of the Atlantic Salmon, and was found to be as safe to eat as the non-GM animal.

Once AquAdvantage Salmon reaches stores, consumers will not know that they are consuming genetically engineered fish as there will be no material differences between a modified and a normal salmon. “FDA’s action is a major step backward for transparency, making it all the more urgent for Congress to act now to require clear, consistent, and mandatory labeling of genetically engineered foods”, he wrote.

The agency is accepting public comments on its voluntary labeling guidelines for 60 days starting on November 23.

“We recognize that a few consumers are interested in knowing whether food ingredients are derived from GE sources”, said Susan Mayne, director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

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

As reported in Issue 15 of this Update, AquaBounty’s GE salmon first drew scrutiny from health and environmental groups as early as 2003, when the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology issued a report suggesting that attempts to regulate transgenic fish as “new animal drugs” may not survive legal challenges.