Supermarket expert Phil Lempert tells TheBlaze Radio that 2016 might see the genetically engineered salmon joining food trends. Massachusetts-based AquaBounty, which has been developing the GM salmon since 25 years ago, recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to distribute the AquaAdvantage Salmon in America.
This new breed of salmon is a product of the combination of growth hormone from a chinook salmon and the genes of an eel-type fish. It requires 50 percent less time to grow (1.5 years instead of the typical three) and 25 percent less food compared to regular salmon. AquaAdvantage Salmon hitting the markets is quite historic since this product by AquaBounty is the very first genetically modified salmon, and fish in general, to be approved by the FDA for public consumption.
Despite agency approval, quite a number of stores and traders have already made the stand that they will not have the AquaAdvantage Salmon in their shelves. Among these chains are Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Safeway and Kroger. Costco recently made the announcement on joining the boycott on the engineered salmon.
Opposition to the fish had been and continues to be plenty with people, in fact, even dubbing it 'Frankenfish'. Still, the FDA assures that the approval had been "based on sound science and a comprehensive review" and that the modified salmon has much the same nutritional value as the traditional salmon.
The FDA will then not require AquaBounty to identify genetic modification labelling on the AquaAdvantage Salmon with substantial disparity in nutritional content being one of the main reasons for different labelling.
Criticism and concern were immediately voiced out, including those of U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell of D-Washington and Representative Don Young of R-Alaska. In Senator Cantwell's words: "Wild seafood from Washington and Alaska are more sustainable than frankenfish, and our consumers have a right to know where their fish come from."
See Also: