RGIS Inventory Blog: FDA favors genetically altered salmon for public consumption

It looks like fish and it tastes like fish

On September 19, The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to decide whether the first genetically-altered fish is safe to eat for public consumption. The altered fish, an Atlantic salmon developed by Aqua Bounty Technologies Inc., a Massachusetts-based biotechnology firm can help solve the decreasing population of Atlantic salmons due to a high demand of production in the US. The company has been seeking approval from the federal government since 2001.

The "new" salmons grow relatively bigger and grow faster to full size less than 250 days compared with about 450 days for traditional ones.

Both fish have the same age. But the one behind is genetically altered.
Image from AquaBounty.

When the FDA issued a favorable report just before Labor Day on AquaBounty's transgenic salmon eggs, it was met with criticism mostly from consumer advocates and health experts. They argued that the government is not prepared to allow genetically altered fish for public consumption. They also raised concerns about its possible health risks and ethical implications.

Currently, side effects from eating such fish are unknown and there is no data to show it is safe. Margaret Mellon, director of the food and environment program at the Union of Concerned Scientists said that there is no opportunity for anyone from the outside to see the data or criticize it. The Food and Water Watch organization also pleaded President Obama not to approve AquaBounty's salmon for consumption.

Though Aqua Bounty has complied and submitted all data requirements to FDA, the study has done no animal or human clinical trials yet.

How did they actually do it?

It was a delicate process. First, scientists injected a Chinook salmon growth hormone gene into Atlantic salmon eggs. They needed this because Chinook salmons are the largest species in the salmon family, and they wanted to make the new Atlantic salmon grow of the same size. Scientists also needed a gene from an ocean pout (a large eelpout) and implanted them into the salmon eggs as well. Ocean pouts are well known in its tolerance for extremely cold waters, allowing the new salmon to grow year-round.

Salmons do not make growth hormone in cold weather. But the pout’s on-switch keeps production of the hormone going even in the coldest season which the traditional salmon does not have. The result: Salmons that can grow faster in 16 to 18 months instead of three years, and grow 2 to 3 times bigger than the typical ones.

Atlantic Salmon eggs
Image from AquaBounty

Critics have reasonable basis to express concerns about the risks, danger, or ethical implications associated with the production of the salmon for public consumption. I also think that federal agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and FDA must exert extra care and thorough review in handling of cases like this prior to any decision. They must create a clear cut scientific and administrative guidelines as basis for further research and undertaking of similar cases.

Consumers like us have the right to know the kind of food we buy and how the government must protect the health and interest of its citizens.

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