A company called “AquAdvantage Salmon” wants people to believe its product is safe. So does the burgeoning genetically-modified food industry.

• On September 19th, staff from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are expected to deliver a report that says AquAdvantage – a genetically-modified salmon – is as safe as regular Atlantic salmon and should be approved for human consumption in the U.S.
• The AquAdvantage fish was created with DNA from another, eel-like fish, and added growth hormones from a different species of salmon. The resulting creature grows twice as fast as a normal Atlantic salmon.
• Critics say the approval process doesn’t allow the public (including independent scientists) to fully understand the implications of allowing this genetically-modified fish into the U.S. food supply. They are also concerned about the potential ecological risks posed by a fish created in a lab.

Facts & Figures

• The University of Guelph in Canada wants the FDA to approve their genetically-engineered “Enviropig,” which is purported to produce “environmentally friendly manure.”
• The United States has already approved the cultivation of genetically-modified corn and soybean crops.

Best Quote

“If these genetically engineered salmon are approved, it will be setting worldwide precedent because salmon is a global commodity. It will be the first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption and for wide-scale farming.” – Anne Kapuscinski, Professor at Dartmouth College and international expert on the safety of genetically modified organisms

Tags: FDA, food policy, food safety, genetically-modified organisms, GMO