By Devan Sticka
Genetically Modified Salmon Blog
What is genetically modified? Well, it is a novel organism created in a laboratory using genetic modification engineering techniques. Scientists remove one or more genes from the DNA of another organism – virus, bacterium, animal or plant – and “recombine” them into the DNA of the plant they want to alter. Inserting a strand of DNA into a plant food source can be random, and scientists have no idea where it goes, which can cause toxins and allergens to be created in the food.
Technology v. Traditional
Supporters say the technology and process are just an extension of traditional plant breeding, but the reality is that it is very different. Genetic engineers break down nature’s genetic barriers by allowing the transfer of genes from bacteria, viruses and animals to be combined with a food source but are not fully aware of the potential consequences. Traditional plant breeders only work with one product and/or similar products, and therefore, they do not mix anything together. Genetic modification is based on the Central Dogma, which says that one gene will express one protein, but scientists who have been working with the United States National Human Genome Research Institute discovered that this was not true. The scientists found that the genes operate in a complex network and in ways that are not fully understood through research yet, and with this study, it undermines the entire basis of genetic engineering. Genetically modified foods that are already approved in the United States: corn; soybeans; cotton; canola; sugar beets; alfalfa; papaya; yellow “crook neck” squash; zucchini; “arctic” apple; and “innate” potato.
The Process of How the Salmon Is Raised
Within a few years there could be a new item added to the list of FDA approved GMO foods. It has been a 25 year-long process. The FDA has never approved a meat food source before, so this could be a huge breakthrough, or, it could be a huge bust as they continue to research it all. There is a salmon that will be produces in Maynard, Massachusetts at a company called AquaBounty. It will be known as AquaAdvantage salmon.
The GM salmon eggs will be produced in Canada. The salmon will grow twice as fast as wild, natural salmon. The GM salmon is an Atlantic salmon that has been hyped up on genes from Chinook salmon and an ocean pout to speed up its maturation process. The fish will be raised in Panama, which is about a year and a half long process. The fish are farmed in tanks inside of specialized warehouses. Because the fish are grown in tanks, there is little to no risk of a disease outbreak, unlike the risks associated with open net-cage salmon.
Environmental Group Concerns
Environmental groups have been challenging the approval of the egg production facilities. These groups are concerned that if a GM salmon were to escape into the wild somehow, then it would mate with a wild salmon and have a major adverse effect on the environment. The groups claim that a GM salmon can escape through drainage pipes, but AquaBounty has said that the company has taken precautions. To prevent this by including physical barriers to prevent fish from leaving their tanks. However, even if one was to escape, AquaBounty has said that all their fish are sterile females. The sterility process has a slight moment in which it could fail. Therefore if one did manage to escape and was fertile, then it could cause an imbalance in the salmon population
in the wild. The Center for Food Safety, an environmental-advocacy group in Washington, D.C., sued the FDA in 2016 to overturn the decision made for the salmon. The group claimed the agency did not have the legal authority to oversee genetically engineered animals and that it made its decisions without fully considering the environmental risks that could occur.
The FDA has made the decision that the GM salmon does not have to be labeled as GMO when on the shelves. The FDA confirmed approval for consumption in November of 2015. The approval took so long because it is the first genetically modified meat approved for human consumption and Obama was also afraid of the backlash this could bring, so he managed to prolong it. The FDA had made the decision that the genetically modified salmon would not have to be labeled as so, but a 2017 law restricted the FDA from selling the salmon until they
developed a program that instructs consumers that they are buying transgenic salmon/genetically engineered product. AquaBounty may voluntarily label the salmon as GMO, however, some producers are worried that the label will cause the cost to go up and scientists are hoping that the FDA review will be enough to persuade consumers to purchase the salmon.
Consumer Group Concerns
However, consumer groups are finding that incredibly unfair and are making demands towards the FDA that they repeal their decision and label all GM salmon as GMO because the consumer groups claim that their studies over it are inadequate. Kroger Co. and Safeway Ltd. have already made a pact with Friends of the Earth and Food & Water Watch that neither store will carry the genetically modified salmon for sale. Consumer groups have argued that the genetically
the wanted genetics in a food source, which has been used in the past for thousands of years. Others see the genetically modified salmon as being an environmental win because it will take the pressure off of the overfished salmon populations. The FDA argues that labeling the salmon as GMO is vague, but if non-GMO salmon wants to be distinguished as so, then they can label their product as all-natural.
Canada’s Purchase
Canada has already distributed about 4.5 tons of the genetically modified salmon to consumers. This sale has marketed the first time a genetically modified animal has been sold for food on market shelves. The first batch that was sold to Canada by AquaBounty went for $5.30 per pound in United States currency, which is about $11.70 per kilogram. It is unsure who bought the genetically modified salmon in Canada. However, there is also been an acquired fish farm in Albany, Indiana. It awaits the go-for-it from the United States regulators to begin production there.
Environmental and consumer groups’ political battles against the FDA have stalled the placement of the salmon into the marketplace. For now, it may be up to two years until the genetically modified salmon reaches the United States store shelves. When considering the fact that it could be reaching our shelves soon, it is important to know the risks and benefits of genetically modified animal sources for food.
The benefits of “transgenic” products depend on if it is a crop, meat or dairy product. There are also some environmental and societal benefits. The benefits of a crop are that is has an ability to increase higher crop yields due to built-in defenses against disease, pests and insecticides. The crops are designed with increased nutrients. They have improved taste and quality. Scientists are working to create medicinal crops, for example, bananas that are engineered to vaccinate against hepatitis B, which could be a breakthrough for the medicine field in battling diseases.
The genetically modified meat and dairy product benefits are that it can be used to improve animal products. Some meats, eggs and milk are bi-products of this technology already. The United States Department of Energy lists improved animal health and diagnostic methods, feed efficiency and hardiness as possible benefits of genetically modified animals as food sources. The first of the environmental and societal benefits is that it allows for production of
bioherbicides and bioinsecticides that are considered environmentally safe. The second is that it could also conserve energy, soil and water. It improved natural waste management and more efficient processing of crops. Lastly, genetically modified foods may offer security for non-industrialized nations with growing populations, according to the United States Department of Energy Office of Science.
The Risks
However, there are also risks, as always, with genetically modified foods. When a study was done on people who took GMO foods out of their diet, the results were as follows:
• Digestive problems decreased by 85.2 percent • Fatigue decreased by 60.4 percent
• Clouding of consciousness (brain fog) decreased by 51.7 percent • Mood problems/anxiety/depression improved by 51.1 percent • Food allergies or sensitivities decreased by 50.2 percent • Memory and concentration improved by 48.1 percent • Joint pain decreased by 47.5 percent
• Seasonal allergies improved by 46.6 percent • Gluten sensitivities decreased by 42.2 percent • Insomnia improved by 33.2 percent
More risks of GMO foods are that they can create or increase allergens, toxins and anti-nutrients. Because of the use of herbicides that kill weeds surrounding plants, the World Health
Organization classifies herbicides as “probably carcinogenic,” meaning herbicides could cause cancer. Th B.t. toxin/insecticides used on corn to kill insects can increase allergenic and carcinogenic compounds in corn, as well.
Whether to eat genetically modified foods is definitely up to the consumer. There are hardy benefits and risks. Now, whether to trust a genetically modified salmon, well, that is something no one will have to worry about for a few more years!