New reports claim that the U.S Food and Drug Administration could soon be approving genetically modified salmon for humans to eat, which is causing concern amongst consumer who consider this to be a threat to both our health and the environment. If the salmon is approved, it could make history as the first time that a genetically modified animal has been approved for consumption on the dinner plates and restaurant menus of America. It could open a can of worms which would result in numerous genetically engineered animals, such as pigs and other mammals. We don’t yet know if it is safe for human consumption, as the only research carried out was by the company who created it. The FDA is looking into the safety element to see if it contains any chemicals or toxins that could be dangerous. There have been reports of worry from groups such as the Food and Water Watch who said that the fish could introduce unknown allergens into the food supply.
AquaBounty created the salmon by taking a growth gene from a Chinook salmon and a gene from a ‘promoter’ from the ocean pout, which is another form of fish. The pout gene simply switches in the Chinook growth gene in the salmon, and isn’t actually active in the modified fish. The resulting fish is set to grow to market weight twice as fast as an ordinary fish, although they don’t get larger overall. It usually takes around three years for a regular salmon to get to market weight, whereas an AquaBounty will get there in around 18 months. In order to ensure that the environment stays safe, the eggs will be treated so that all fish will grow to be sterile females. This means that they won’t be able to reproduce nor will they come into contact with any males who could impregnate them. The genetically modified fish will be grown in land-based tanks as opposed to the farm-raised varieties we’re used to, so there will be a reduced risk of escape. There has been much research and planning to ensure that the fish are safe for humans as well as the environment.
The increase in genetically modified animals has been steadily on the rise since they were first created in the 1970s. However, up until now, there have never been any that were suitable for consumption. At the moment, only soybeans and corn which have been genetically modified are being sold to consumers. AquaBounty say that releasing these fish onto the market could take at least 18 months after approval from the FDA. Farmers who want to be able to grow and sell the fish will also need to seek the approval of the FDA before doing so. It’s thought that these fish could help to reduce the risk of pollution and disease, but it remains to be seen whether we will be eating such products. One question that many consumers have is whether or not specific packaging will be required in order to distinguish the modified salmon from the everyday varieties that we’re used to. This is something that the FDA have said they will consider when making their decisions. It begs the question of whether such measures are really necessary in the food industry, and how many consumers would actually purchase such food if it was made readily available. With so many risks of disease and contamination in regular farmed fish, it could be the safer option and put an end to allergens and chemicals in fish – but are they simply being replaced with a new set of problems?
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