The AquAdvantage salmon is an Atlantic salmon that contains
artificially-inserted growth hormone genes from Chinook salmon and a
genetic promoter from ocean pout (an eel-like fish) that make the salmon
grow to market size faster, the FDA said in a statement.
The agency added that after "exhaustive and rigorous scientific review,"
it has deemed that AquAdvantage salmon are "safe to eat by humans and
animals" and that "genetic engineering is safe for the fish."
The GMO salmon will not be required to be labeled as genetically
engineered, according to the FDA, which has the same policy for all
genetically-engineered crops.
The "FDA can only require additional labeling of foods derived from GE
sources if there is a material difference –- such as a different
nutritional profile –- between the GE product and its non-GE
counterpart," the agency said. "In the case of the AquAdvantage Salmon,
the FDA did not find any such differences."
The FDA did not mention in its statement when the GE-salmon would be sold to U.S. consumers.
The federal approval of the GMO salmon and the lack of labeling
requirements have sparked outrage and opposition by a number of food,
health and environmental advocates.
Just hours after the FDA's announcement, The Center for Food Safety said it plans to sue the FDA, according to a news release. The lawsuit "will be filed in coordination with other colleague plaintiffs," according to the release.
The Center expressed concerns about possible unknown health risks to
humans and added that if the GMO salmon escaped from pens, they could
pose "serious risks" to "wild salmon populations that are already under
duress."
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