Coming to a Market Near You: Genetically Engineered Salmon?

Long-touted in magazines and journals for its health benefits (Omega-3 Fatty Acids, anyone?), salmon is garnering a whole type of press.

Today has started 2 days of hearings for the Food and Drug Administration on whether genetically engineered salmon will get the okay to be sold by your local grocer.  If the outcome is yes, the fish could be the first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption.

The FDA released a preliminary report earlier this month saying that the salmon, which grows twice as fast as “normal” salmon and consumes 25 percent less feed, “is as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon” and not likely to cause environmental harm.

Is AquaBounty Technologies Inc., the developer of the animal, creating a revolutionary new food source that could feed the hungry?  Or are they creating a meal that could be responsible for the eventual demise of wild salmon or cause unusual allergic reactions?  After all, AquaBounty has added a growth hormone from a Chincook salmon that allows the fish to produce their growth hormone all year long.  As most know, in some studies, higher hormone levels in food have been linked to higher cancer risks.

Despite the ethical and medical controversy it causes, the approval of the salmon could make way for other genetically engineered animals seeking the go ahead from the FDA.  Next up?  The “enviropig,” an animal developed by Canada’s University of Guelph, which produces manure that is more environmentally friendly than that of a normal pig.

Because it’s fairly new (and unconventional), the FDA does not have a standard approval process specifically designed for genetically engineered animals.  It will be evaluating the salmon under the process used for new veterinary drugs.

A spokeswoman for the FDA commented:  "overall, this is the most transparent manner ever used for a new animal drug application."

The FDA's readiness to approve what some have deemed “Frankenfish” has irritated a combination of consumer, environmental, animal welfare and fishing groups.  All accuse the agency of basing its judgment on data accumulated from small samples supplied by the company.

David Edwards of the Biotechnology Industry Association has a different take.  He states:  ?"In the story of Frankenstein it was the fear of the people driving it, it wasn't the monster that was evil.  If you look at the science and the safety and you look at the benefits, they become very exciting products."

But the question remains: Would you eat it?