FDA considers genetically modified salmon in food supply
U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials start two days of hearings on Monday to determine the future of genetically engineered salmon.
If approved, the salmon would be the first genetically modified animal allowed by the FDA on Americans’ dinner tables.
The Atlantic salmon being considered have been injected with growth hormones that will make them grow twice as fast as normal salmon, which usually take 30 months to reach grocery-store readiness.
Consumer and environmental groups from Canada and the U.S. have rallied against the proposed fish from Aqua Bounty. Their concern is that a favorable ruling would be the first step in a stampede of genetically modified cows, pigs, chicken, and other animals making it to the dining tables of Americans.
According to the FDA website, the FDA will consider information on food safety, environmental concerns, animal health, and data supporting the claim that AquAdvantage Salmon grow faster than normal bred salmon.
But opponents to the modified fish, as well as many consumer advocates, worry that the fish would be a threat to both the environment and the health of the consumers.
Aqua Bounty has encountered numerous challenges from opponents who claim there are "gaps in the science" regarding whether the fish is safe to eat by consumers.
Opponents are also worried about how GM salmon would be labeled in the marketplace. The FDA currently does not require a separate label on GM products.
In order to stop the fish from mixing with natural salmon, the fish would be kept in tanks on land.