GM salmon may become legal
A new salmon species may become the first genetically modified animal allowed for human consumption. Scientists are very critical of the approval process.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could approve fast-growing genetically modified salmon for human consumption this year. FDA is reviewing an application from the biotechnology company AquaBounty Technologies for permission to start selling the modified salmon in the USA.
The procedure for approval is identical to the one applied to medicines. The FDA’s decision is based on whether or not the product may have immediate side effects, or deviates measurably from other salmon species. According to a group of researchers, this is a very narrow procedure, since it does not take the most important effects of the genetically engineered fish into consideration.
Full impact assessment
In the article “Genetically Modified Salmon and Full Impact Assessment”, published in the renowned periodical Science, the researchers point to a number of conditions which the FDA should consider before deciding on the legality of the GM salmon. Possible positive effects such as improved public health and possible negative effects like environmental strain are among them. The authors are Professor Frank Asche of the University of Stavanger, professor Atle G. Guttormsen of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and professor Martin D. Smith and assistant professor Jonathan B. Wiener of Duke University in North Carolina.
Today’s salmon breeding leads to environmental strain caused by discharge, interaction with wild salmon and spreading of parasites. If GM salmon gets approved, these challenges will increase, the researchers say.
Speeding up
Speeding up the salmon’s growth is the rationale behind modifying its genetics. This will yield lower production costs, higher production rates and lower sales prize.
- History tells us that more people will eat salmon if prizes are lowered. And the positive health effects of eating salmon are well documented, says Asche.
- It takes more energy to produce beef than salmon. If certain products are ousted from the market by genetically modified salmon, this may benefit the environment, says Guttormsen.
