FDA approves first genetically engineered food animal

[Serendipity 7,821]

The Food and Drug Administration announcedThursday that it has approved the first genetically modified food animal – the AquAdvantage salmon.

The fast-growing variety of salmon is as nutritious and safe to eat as any other Atlantic salmon, according to the FDA. The salmon is produced by AquaBounty Technologies, a Massachusetts biotechnology company.

The salmon was produced by inserting a growth hormone gene from a Chinook salmon, as well as a gene from the ocean pout, which make the animal grow faster.

Some critics of Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have derided the products as "Frankenfoods" because of concerns that these products could cause health or environmental problems.

But the FDA said that scientific studies have "demonstrated that the inserted genes remained stable over several generations of fish, that food from the (genetically engineered) salmon is safe to eat by humans and animals, that the genetic engineering is safe for the fish, and the salmon meets the sponsor’s claim about faster growth."

The FDA's decision comes five years after its scientists found that the fish was safe.

The FDA studied how the fish would affect its environment but decided the fish "would not have a significant impact on the environment of the United States." AquaAdvantage will use several types of containment structures to prevent the fish from leaving their enclosures. In a statement, "multiple containment measures the company will use in the land-based facilities in Panama and Canada make it extremely unlikely that the fish could escape and establish themselves in the wild."

The fish won't be grown in the USA. Instead, they will be farmed only in two land-based facilities in Canada and Panama. The company will use only female fish, so they won't reproduce, the FDA said.

The FDA also issued voluntary guidelines for food makers who want to include genetically engineered salmon or plants in their products. Companies aren't legally required to label genetically modified salmon, according to the FDA.

The one sure way to avoid genetically modified salmon is to purchase the wild-caught variety, which is not genetically engineered, officials said. Consumers can generally avoid purchasing genetically modified plant foods by looking for labels that say "non-GMO" or organic, said Gregory Jaffe, director of the biotechnology project at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

 

 

X

[PaperIz 7,354]

This is scary to me idk

[RAMROD 117,053]

Leave my salmon alone, scientists!!

I have enough of that from McD patties and KFC!!

Leave my salmon bare!!

[Serendipity 7,821]

1 minute ago, PaperIz said:

This is scary to me idk

 

Just now, RAMROD said:

Leave my salmon alone, scientists!!

I have enough of that from McD patties and KFC!!

Leave my salmon bare!!

this is an alternative tho

 

eventually we'll need ways to cope with world's hunger

 

 

these animals grow very fast

[RAMROD 117,053]

1 minute ago, Clean said:

 

this is an alternative tho

 

eventually we'll need ways to cope with world's hunger

 

 

these animals grow very fast

 

One day everything organic will be even more expensive than it is now

 

 

[Serendipity 7,821]

Just now, RAMROD said:

 

One day everything organic will be even more expensive than it is now

 

 

imagine people drinking artificial alcohol

[RAMROD 117,053]

Just now, Clean said:

imagine people drinking artificial alcohol

Noooo, it must have terrible flavour 

 

[Serendipity 7,821]

Just now, RAMROD said:

Noooo, it must have terrible flavour 

 

what does it taste like? holy water 

[RAMROD 117,053]

Just now, Clean said:

what does it taste like? holy water 

:lmao:

 

:air:

[Sunny 12,753]

mmhm i love salmon 

[The Professor 1,060]

Good.

People are making a fuss but there's 0 evidence that GMO crops/animals are harmful

[MJHolland 12,725]

Yay! Go science!

[Hexxx 2,244]

i bet it tastes horrible

 

[RainingOnMe 7,280]

32 minutes ago, Clean said:

 

this is an alternative tho

 

eventually we'll need ways to cope with world's hunger

 

 

these animals grow very fast

my thoughts exactly

people are like "I dont want to eat frankenfoods!!11! :(((" but it has absolutely no downsides + has been tested for 5 years.. 

[Hexxx 2,244]

I don't really approve of this. i find it...kinda wrong. I think this is proof scientists are creating hybrids and experimenting on other forms of life.