What will probably be the final FDA hearing on the request by a Massachusetts company (AquaBounty,) to sell genetically-modified salmon eggs, was held in DC on September 21. The bio-tech company has been trying for 15 years (at a cost of millions of dollars,) to gain approval to market their product.
A growth hormone implanted in the Atlantic salmon eggs from chinook salmon is activated by DNA from another eel-like fish known as "ocean pout." The DNA protein acts as anti-freeze, keeping the growth hormone from turning off in colder weather, as it normally would in wild fish. This enables the modified salmon to grow quickly to large size, and be ready for market about twice as soon.
AquaBounty plans to produce the eggs at a hatchery on Prince Edward Island, and then ship them to a hatchery in Panama to be raised to market size. The company maintains that both facilities are inland from the ocean and fully contained, with no danger of GE fish escaping. They also say only sterile females will be produced.
There isn't room here to go into details on this complex situation, which is causing great concern among scientists and environmentalists, but a Google search will turn up a lot of additional information. Purdue University has done considerable research on this situation, but according to some reports, the FDA has considered only AquaBounty's research during the hearing process. Interestingly, the approval is being sought for a "veterinary drug" - not for a food product or process -- since the modified eggs are a change to the nature of an animal.
Many people fear that if approval is given in this case - the first of its kind - many other GMO requests will follow; apparently some are already waiting in the wings for the outcome of this one. Another disturbing aspect of this situation, is that if these salmon are allowed to be brought to market in the US, apparently no special labeling will be required to identify them as genetically-modified!
If you wish to voice your concerns, it will be important to do so soon, as the FDA seems to be leaning towards approval, and its decision is expected soon.
Here's one of many sites on this subject:
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This is a really big decision. It will set a precedent for all future GE animals, and has implications that will ripple through the entire future of the U.S. food supply.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the time for a rubber stamp approval.
There are a couple of things bugging me about this approval process.
An Open Letter to the FDA
http://gigabiting.com/?p=5129/
Do follow the link to the above letter to the FDA! Very cleverly written, but most importantly, gives a lot more details about this pending decision and the ramifications for all of us and future generations if the request is approved. It also points out the complete disconnect between the FDA and the world in which the rest of us live. Thank you, "gigabiting" for being an alert citizen.
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