Where do the candidates stand on labeling Genetically Modified Salmon?

[Cheese Sandwich]

Don't we have a right to know what we're eating?

FDA approves GMO salmon, a first for food supply. Shouldn’t it be labeled?

The genetically engineered salmon — a lightning rod in the debate about biotechnology in our food supply — is a go. The Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved the salmon, making it the first genetically engineered animal cleared for consumption in the United States. Although “genetically engineered” is the term the FDA uses, the salmon, modified for fast growth with genes from other two edible fish, is commonly referred to as a genetically modified organism (GMO).

-snip-

The fish’s lengthy approval process — the salmon’s developer, AquaBounty Technologies, first approached the FDA 20 years ago — is an indication of the many political and scientific obstacles. And then there’s the labeling issue. The U.S., unlike many other countries, has no requirement to label genetically modified food, and the salmon is no exception. AquaBounty CEO Ron Stotish says that when the fish is introduced some two years down the road, it will probably not be identified as genetically engineered — a decision I think is unfortunate (but more on that later). “When you’re the first and only, labeling is a dangerous decision,” he says. “We’d like to label it as a premium product, but we’ll probably introduce it as ‘Atlantic salmon.’ ”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/fda-approves-gmo-salmon-a-first-for-the-us-food-supply/2015/11/19/d5d1b60e-8ec3-11e5-acff-673ae92ddd2b_story.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. I guarantee this: I will NOT vote for any candidate who openly opposes this.

Anyone that fucking stupid will not get my vote, and I will work against them.

[bunnies]

2. Im just going to pull these two excerpts..

How is Hillary personally involved in supporting big agriculture? The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), which gathers leaders to solve the world's problems, promotes Monsanto, the maker of RoundUp® and RoundUp Ready® seeds. Hugh Grant, Monsanto's Chairman and CEO spoke at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in September, 2014. Ms. Clinton's top campaign advisor, Jerry Crawford, was a lobbyist for Monsanto for years and is now the political pro for her Super PAC, "Ready for Hillary." Clinton spoke in favor of the government's Feed the Future (FtF) program, a USAID funded, corporate-partnered program that brings RoundUp Ready® technology to the most vulnerable populations of the world. Monsanto and Dow Chemical support Hillary and Bill's 'Clinton Foundation' with generous donations.

Senator Bernie Sanders represents Vermont, the first state in the nation to pass a "right to know" GMO labeling law. He authored an amendment to the 2013 farm bill that would have given states the ability to require labeling so that they don't have to fight for it, state by state, through propositions on the ballot. Sanders' amendment was defeated 71 to 27 in the Senate, even though 93 percent of Americans want GMOs labeled.

The rest:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judy-frankel/hillary-vs-bernie-on-fran_b_7638846.html

[Cheese Sandwich]

3. very interesting thank you so much

[bunnies]

5. anytime!

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. The Wall St. candidate is also BFF with Monsanto advocate, Tom Vilsack.

Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary

As Iowa Governor, Tom Vilsack was a leading advocate for Monsanto, genetic engineering, and factory farming. President Obama proudly lauded his new Agriculture Secretary for "promoting biotech."

Vilsack has, in fact, promoted the most controversial and dangerous forms of agricultural biotechnology, including pharma crops, plants genetically engineered to produce pharmaceuticals. When grown outdoors on farmland, where most pharma crop trials have occurred, pharma crops can easily contaminate conventional and organic varieties.

In one chilling example from 2002, a corn crop engineered by ProdiGene to produce a vaccine for pigs contaminated 500,000 bushels of soybeans that were grown in the Nebraska field the next season. Before this incident, a similar thing had happened in Iowa where the USDA ordered ProdiGene to pay for the burning of 155 acres of conventional corn that may have been contaminated by the firm's biotech plants.

ProdiGene eventually went out of business, but not before it received a $6 million investment from the Governors Biotechnology Partnership, chaired by Iowa Governor Vilsack. Vilsack didn't want any restrictions placed on experimental pharma crops. In reaction to suggestions that pharma crops should be kept away from food crops, Vilsack argued that "we should not overreact and hamstring this industry."

https://www.organicconsumers.org/old_articles/usda_watch.php

[bunnies]

6. Very telling.

Though unsurprising. *smh*

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. Isn't it though.

She is NOT good for this country.

[bunnies]

10. I couldnt agree more. nt

[winter is coming]

13. +1. Wall Street's idea of GMO salmon is probably salmon capable of labelling itself. n/t

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. No kidding! I REFUSE to be their guinea pig!

Not happening. If they're not labeling, I'm not eating it!

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. I guess we've eaten our last salmon EVER.

I'm not eating that crap.

[Blue_In_AK]

9. Nothing but wild Alaskan salmon for me.

I just hope these Frankenfish don't get loose.

[uppityperson]

16. I had a good visit with a farmer salmon place and came away with my mind changed. A bit.

However, though they were growing Atlantic salmon in cages, it was in the Atlantic in Europe. I can't away impressed with their operation, growing and providing good food.

I still disagree totally with having them in the Pacific as there is too much risk of them getting out and bringing diseases to our wild fish.

But in the Atlantic where there are no such thing, where those fish already live? Seems OK to me so long as they get good food and are in good water.

I know this thread is about GMO, but wanted to share otherwise with you.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. I can accept farmed REAL salmon, in the Atlantic, as you say,

but not this Frankenfish. If someone else wants to eat it, fine, but it should definitely be labeled for what it is. Our Costco and other stores here say they won't sell it. I hope they stand by that.

[MineralMan]

11. That's Nothing Compared to This:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_meat

How about a "Chicken Little" sandwich or a "Vat Pork" slice with a little relish?

Salmon that is genetically modifies with genes for faster growth will seem like a minor issue, once those products hit the market, and they will.

[restorefreedom]

12. there are actually meatless meats on the market now

the main difference is that the ones now are completely plant based, where the ones you refer to will have a non death produced starter of animal cells. both are basically processed foods. the main difference is whether people are ok with the animal starter. as a vegan, i am not, but many will be ok with it. it also avoids the pollution/resource issues of big ag, foodborne illness, antibiotic resistance, hormones, and of course, animal slaughter.

it won't be for everyone, but as the earth will be forced to move to a more plant based diet, it may be an acceptable option for many who still want the taste and texture of real flesh.

and for germophobes who hate the idea of bacteria in their food, it will be a dream come true

[sabrina 1]

14. Again, Bernie supports the peoples right to KNOW what food they are feeding their families.

Hillary, not so much as far as I know!

[LWolf]

17. And that's an important point.

Transparency.

I eat wild-caught Salmon when I eat fish. I don't eat fish that often, thinking about our over-fished, polluted, and now too-warm oceans. I live near rivers and lakes that I can catch trout and salmon out of, although I haven't fished in many years.

[sabrina 1]

18. Yes the people's right to know. We are the ONLY country in the developed and developing world

where a vast majority of the people WANT their food labeled and where their government ignores them in favor of Monsanto.

GMOs are coming under fire everywhere now also, banned in many countries since the findings that they do cause cancer.

But not here. We are no longer represented. Our Government is owned by Corporations.

Great that you are near rivers and lakes where you can get fish yourself.

We are too and we grow our own organic vegetables, fruit etc which was already here, apple trees, plum trees etc, and we know there are no GMOs in anything we grow from old seeds.

[firebrand80]

20. I can hardly stand the irony

The same folks that (rightly) mock those that deny climate science are some of the same to engage in anti-GMO hysteria.

[NastyRiffraff]

21. And hysteria is the right word!

The fear of food..any food.. is becoming endemic. Someone in another thread actually said we shouldn't eat fish at all. Of course, red meat is by definition the devil's meal and poultry is his fiends' banquet.

[firebrand80]

22. 7 Billion+ people on earth that all need food

and you have folks running around in a country that has too much food talking about what you "shouldn't eat."

Go ahead and get your $8.50/lb. green beans from Whole Foods. Maybe the price of GMOs will drop for the rest of us.

[Cheese Sandwich]

23. So what's up with your avatar and sig line

Why the Bernie Sanders logo with the 3rd way logo? Those are like opposites.

[firebrand80]

24. Just me being silly

Poking fun at how some people around here behave