| Submit your comments on this article |
| Economy |
| US considering whether to label engineered fish |
| 2010-09-23 |
| [Arab News] US regulators are weighing whether to approve genetically modified salmon for human consumption, and if they do, it might not be labeled any differently from conventional fish. It is still unclear whether the Food and Drug Administration will approve the fish, which was created by a Massachusetts company and grows twice as fast as its conventional counterparts. If it is approved, the agency would then have to decide the label it will carry in grocery stores. According to FDA rules, the fish will not be labeled as genetically modified if the agency decides it has the same material makeup as conventional salmon. FDA officials reviewed the science of the modified fish Monday and will hold a hearing Tuesday to discuss the labeling issue, which has many food safety and consumer groups concerned. Agency officials have said they believe the makeup of wild Atlantic salmon is essentially the same as genetically engineered salmon, though they have not made a final decision on its approval. A federal advisory committee that convened Monday to discuss the science said more data and testing may be needed to be sure the fish is safe. Several consumer groups plan to argue Tuesday for more detailed labeling, saying it is the public's right to know. Dr. Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, says his organization disagrees with the FDA that genetic engineering itself does not constitute a material difference in the two fish. "It is essential to label a GE animal so that any unexpected effects will be recognized and consumer health protected," he said. The Atlantic salmon engineered by the Massachusetts company, AquaBounty, has an added a growth hormone from a Chinook salmon that allows the fish to produce growth hormone all year long. The engineers were able to keep the hormone active by using another gene from an eel-like fish called an ocean pout that acts like an on switch for the hormone, which conventional salmon produces only some of the time. In documents released ahead of the hearing, the FDA agreed with the company, saying there were no biologically relevant differences between the engineered salmon and conventional salmon, and there is a reasonable certainty that no harm will come from its consumption. FDA scientists said Monday there are very few differences between the modified and conventional fish. Ron Stotish, CEO of AquaBounty, said at Monday's hearing that his company's fish product is safe and environmentally sustainable. But critics have two main concerns: The safety of the food to humans and the salmon's effect on the environment. Because the altered fish has never been eaten before, they say, it could include dangerous allergens, especially because seafood is highly allergenic. They also worry that the fish will escape and intermingle with the wild salmon population, which is already endangered. They would grow fast and consume more food to the detriment of the conventional wild salmon, the critics fear. The FDA tried to allay both of those concerns Monday, saying the fish shouldn't cause any allergies not already found in conventional salmon and there is little chance they could escape. But the advisory panel, which was formed to give input to the agency and did not hold a final vote, cast some doubts on whether there was enough evidence to back up those assertions. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #15 Lets not forget wild venison - dam good. I bought some farmed salmon.... once. I think some of it comes from having to avoid predators as well. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-09-23 19:46 |
| #14 But love the rabbit when I can get it. Life is tough ;) Wild boar sausage seems to be getting big as well, gotta trust the prep there. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-09-23 18:02 |
| #13 #12 swksvolFF Tularemia. Ya hate it, doncha? |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2010-09-23 17:39 |
| #12 It is a simple rule many do not take seriously. You are what you eat. And it goes for plants, everything. The obvious example is grapes, notably grapes for wine. The best example is mushrooms. Honey would be another. Coffee. I was told once the best lamb in the world is in Greece, on account of the herd eating the wild herbs such as mint and rosemary. Farmed stuff tends to produce a softer and consistantly flavored outcome on account of the feed mix and lack of nature's challenges. That is not necessarily a bad thing as a population ends up with good quality relatively inexpensive food. Which in turn creates a market for small/organic farms. I believe it was in California quite a few years ago there was the big discussion on what qualifies as organic. The issue here is that as people attempt to find ways to supply in-demand specialty foods this case will set a precident. Interesting question, it is a natural hormone which is consumed if eaten while the fish is producing it in a natural cycle; not like some guy is out there juicing the fish. On the other I believe in properly labeled food, like when I almost bought that catfish. And a lot of y'all who like Japanese food...most of the time that is not true wasabi on your dish. Thought I was Jonny Badass with spicy foods until I found that out, but thought it a bit shady. The economics: for a number of reasons good and bad some people will refuse to buy GE foods. Still, I see no danger of Mega Salmon destroying the natural order if it makes a great escape. If someone know more about Salmon behavior please correct me, but would these farm Salmon even know how to find the streams to the spawning grounds, nevermind flopping its chubby self up the falls and past the bears? Totally agree no mo uro, out here we call it self marinating. Still have to be aware, out thisaways there are only certain times of the year wild rabbit is considered safe to eat. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-09-23 16:45 |
| #11 To the extent that I'm able, I eat the fish I catch and the game I kill. No food is perfect, and all foods have some chemicals/risk, but the wild stuff is generally better and tastier. If you've ever had wild salmon, the farmed stuff just won't do it for you. |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2010-09-23 15:35 |
| #10 I'd eat the charcoal the Chinese catfish was cooked with before I ate the Chinese catfish. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-09-23 11:35 |
| #9 Salmon Green is...People! I'd eat it before I would eat chinese catfish. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-09-23 11:34 |
| #8 Frankenfood. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-09-23 11:33 |
| #7 What about the growth hormone being passed onto consumers? Growth hormone is used up by the body (whether for growth or cellular repair in mature bodies) as it is available to the cells, so there isn't any remaining to pass on to consumers, Lumpy Elmoluck5091. Those humans on growth hormone replacement therapy need nightly injections of the stuff, like insulin. And anyway, studies show that growth hormone injections actually reduce fat deposits and increase lean muscle, so if it would lead to a more slender population, not a fatter one. This is why growth hormone treatment is such a drawing point at the most expensive health spa-resorts, and with certain professional baseball players. Based on recent studies I've read about, increased girth is related to a combination of too much food/too little exercise and infection from one of several viruses that cause either an increase in the number of fat cells or increased efficiency in extracting nutriment from ingested food. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2010-09-23 11:31 |
| #6 Some blame its presence in milk, beef, and poultry for obesity and encourage organic products, which do taste better. "Some" blame flouride for the voices in their heads, too. |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2010-09-23 11:11 |
| #5 What about the growth hormone being passed onto consumers? Some blame its presence in milk, beef, and poultry for obesity and encourage organic products, which do taste better. The 'Law of Unintended Consequences' should motivate labeling and the only reason they don't want it mentioned is to cover their butts in a future lawsuit. |
| Posted by: Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2010-09-23 10:09 |
| #4 I think they should clone in the gene for GFP (green fluorescent protein) and sell the meat under a blue light. That would be cool. |
| Posted by: Chemist 2010-09-23 09:32 |
| #3 Hmm... Farmed Salmon is usually lighter in color than their wild counterparts (tastes different as well) - so much so that they have to 'add coloring' to sell it. Will these 'genetic' fish be even lighter? Or perhaps blue or green? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-09-23 09:28 |
| #2 Joe - I read the article, and while it doesn't mention him by name, since Warren Buffett just bought BNSF, which ships a lot of grain, and China and Russia will upset world markets shortly, isn't this essentially saying that Buffett plans windfall in coming years? Of course, doesn't he always? Finally, maybe the Chinese could simply eat more salmon. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2010-09-23 09:24 |
| #1 ION FREEREPUBLIC > GLOBAL FOOD RISK FROM CHINA-RUSSIA PINCER. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-09-23 03:11 |