U.S. clears genetically modified salmon for human consumption

[Little Tich]

Source: Reuters

U.S. health regulators on Thursday cleared the way for a type of genetically engineered Atlantic salmon to be farmed for human consumption - the first such approval for an animal whose DNA has been scientifically modified.

Five years ago, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration first declared the product, made by Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies, to be as safe as conventional farm-raised Atlantic salmon.

AquaBounty's product will not require special labeling because it is nutritionally equivalent to conventional farm-raised Atlantic salmon, the FDA said on Thursday.

AquaBounty developed the salmon by altering its genes so that it would grow faster than farmed salmon, and expects it will take about two more years to reach consumers' plates as it works out distribution. AquaBounty is majority owned by Intrexon Corp, whose shares were up 7.3 percent at $37.55 in afternoon trading.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/19/us-aquabounty-technologies-fda-idUSKCN0T826T20151119#ILWrkYDg9SmQCUtg.97

[FLPanhandle]

1. How's it taste?

I'd rather have farm raised fish since we are overfishing the worlds oceans at an alarming rate.

[Thespian2]

3. If it makes you sick,

will you care how it tastes? I just moved from Prince Edward Island where the monster salmon was developed...I would never eat such a fish...It is easy enough to raise real Atlantic salmon...

[FLPanhandle]

4. Will it though?

At the end of the day, it's protein on a plate. Will it make people sick?

[Thespian2]

7. My friends in the business of fish farming

think it will...I personally don't know...and I never will because we have enough fresh and farm-raised fish
here in Nova Scotia...

[FLPanhandle]

10. Interesting.

Here in Florida, I can run out in the morning and be back by 10am with my fresh catch.

We don't have salmon though and I would try it if it was safe and tasted the same.

Guess I'll wait

[HuckleB]

25. It appears to be quite safe.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2015/11/genetically_engineered_aquabounty_salmon_safe_fda_decides.html

[cui bono]

13. Farmed fish is toxic. They feed them crap and they leave them in crap filled water.

Okay, there's a more scientific explanation out there, but it's not good for you.

You should only eat wild fish if you eat fish. Healthier to not eat any at all really.

[bunnies]

23. Literally crap in some cases.

No thanks.

[ananda]

2. This is scary and ..

.. really creeps me out.

[forest444]

5. Same here.

According to Food and Water Watch:

According to AquaBounty, the GE salmon grows so fast, it reaches market weight in half the time of the non-engineered fish. The company plans to produce only sterile, female individuals, and to raise them in land-based facilities to minimize the chances of escape.

However, according to an issue brief from Food and Water Watch, the GE salmon "demonstrates serious risks to consumer health, animal welfare, fishing economies and the environment." The group also says that the new fish does not live up to the hype. While the fish may grow faster than conventional Atlantic salmon, they require five times more food, need almost twice as much oxygen and have higher rates of deformities, such as jaw erosion and inflammation.

Frankly, this is what comes to mind every time someone mentions GMO fish:

[proverbialwisdom]

11. Food & Water Watch Petition: Congress & President Obama have power to revoke approval of GMO salmon

https://secure.foodandwaterwatch.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2423#_ga=1.201322478.1562064022.1447986421

Petition: President Obama Stop GMO Salmon!

GMO salmon (larger) compared to wild salmon (smaller) of the same age.

Bad news: despite insufficient testing and the vocal opposition of hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens, the FDA just approved genetically engineered (GMO) salmon.

This GMO fish poses serious risks to the environment and the health of people who eat it. It could soon show up on your grocery store shelves, and because it's not required to be labeled, you won't be able to avoid it!

But here's the good news: Congress and President Obama have the power to revoke its approval. Tell them you don't want GMO salmon in your grocery store!

Please fill out your information below and we'll deliver your message directly to President Obama and your members of Congress.

LINK FROM HOMEPAGE: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org

[forest444]

12. Ah! Thank you.

Signed, sealed, and delivered.

[proverbialwisdom]

17. Same here! Thank you for posting F&WW. (nt)

[840high]

18. I won't touch it.

[scarletwoman]

6. Oh, fanfuckingtastic. Assholes.

Wonder how much they got paid off for approving the new frankenfish.

I caught part of a news report about this on NPR. Part of the deal is that the company is supposed to guarantee that their frankenfish won't get loose to interbreed with wild salmon stock. Yeah, like that could never happen.

Thanks a lot, FDA. You corrupt mofos.

[potone]

8. This is seriously creepy.

Leave the salmon alone!

[Geronimoe]

9. How utterly criminal

Just so some corporation can get a patent on food.

Salmon return to the river they were spawned after three years at sea. So simple to catch them with a net.

[restorefreedom]

14. yum, frankenfood. nt

[JudyM]

15. They have a high level of inflammation. Defeats the omega-3 anti inflammatory benefit of salmon.

[YOHABLO]

16. No farm raised fish here, of any kind. Better off eating canned wild caught salmon.

[IcyPeas]

19. and they don't have to label it !!!!!!!!!

AquaBounty's product will not require special labeling because it is nutritionally equivalent to conventional farm-raised Atlantic salmon, the FDA said on Thursday.

(from above link)

[Rex]

20. You know after all the knock out drag down fights over GMOs

I will sit back and see what happens over the next 30 years. If we all sprout fins and gills in 2050, we might need them. Salmon salt water or freath water?

[Le Taz Hot]

22. There are both varieties.

(Answering your last question.)

[Le Taz Hot]

21. Well, I won't eat shrimp anymore

because I saw a video of how it's handled in southeast Asia where most of the shrimp is coming from. Now I guess salmon is off the menu too. Too bad because I love fish. I can't get local fresh-caught fish where I am in California (too far inland) but I can get fresh grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken and free-range goat meat here locally so I'll stick with that.

[shanti]

28. there's always wild salmon, costco sells it.

i love shrimp but, i'm uneasy with shrimp now like you. i don't particularly relish shrimp raised on chicken shit.

[Archae]

24. How DARE anyone eat something created by actual science!

This anti-science lunacy, (and that's all it is,) is completely out of hand.

That GOP-supporting CEO of Whole Paycheck...I mean Whole Foods, is laughing all the way to the bank at all the suckers here that go into full panic mode if someone says "genetics."

[NastyRiffraff]

31. At last!

Sanity in this thread! Thank you, thank you!

Fear of food (and science) is infesting America more than any genetically altered fish. So now, according to at least one poster here, we shouldn't eat any fish! Silly old me; I thought fish was good for you.

[darkangel218]

26. I wonder when the fake plastic Chinese eggs will hit the market

[shanti]

27. no more farmed salmon for me then

and i LOVE salmon. guess it will be strictly wild caught pacific only. good thing costco sells it!

[NobodyHere]

29. So does anyone here complaining about GMO salmon..

have any evidence that it is bad for you?

[HuckleB]

30. They don't need evidence.

That's how fear works.