GMO Salmon Receives United States FDA Approval

November 23, 2015 – An update to a posting that appeared here on Christmas Day 2012 concerns the AquAdvantage Fish, a genetically modified Atlantic salmon that incorporates growth hormone genetic information from Pacific Chinook Salmon, and a genetic switch from the Ocean Pout to accelerate growth. In the last week it has received U.S. FDA approval for human consumption. In its announcement the FDA states, “based on sound science and a comprehensive review” they have approved the AquAdvantage Salmon. Bernadette Dunham, Director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in the press release is quoted stating, “food from the fish is safe to eat.”

The FDA found that the genetic modification was safe for the fish itself based on extensive examination. The nutrition and food value was determined to be as safe as any other Atlantic Salmon raised by fish farms. And finally the environmental assessment of AquaBounty Technologies, the Canadian company that developed the genetically modified fish determined that the production, facilities and physical barriers created to separate the fish from wild stocks met its standards for safety. Raised fish from AquaBounty can never intermingle and breed with existing wild fish stocks. All AquAdvantage Fish are sterile.

Anti-GMO critics were quick to pounce on the announcement from the FDA, referring to the AquAdvantage as a “frankenfish.” The FDA received 1.8 million letters opposing approval including celebrity demands that the fish be labeled genetically modified when sold on grocery shelves.

The concern about food safety from consumer groups, while always warranted, is invalid in this case as it is with all GMOs. The science of GMO is no different from selective breeding. The targets are different. Instead of modifying the seed-germ through experimental cross breeding, GMO science makes the change in the RNA and DNA. No one has ever gotten sick from eating GMO foods. And in fact some GMO foods are saving lives every day and ensuring that young people in the Developing World don’t go blind from Vitamin A deficiency.

The truth about the safety of GMOs is not based on science but on emotion. And when you add the names of the chemical companies that are GMO advocates, like Monsanto, Bayer, Dupont and BASF, responses are even more virulent. These corporations are seen as manipulative and monopolistic in the agribusiness world. The result, quality aquaculture research by companies like AquaBounty Technology gets lost in the emotional debate. That’s what makes resistance to GMO science so much harder to overcome.