It was bound to happen sooner or later. We have genetically modified plant food and soon we might have genetically modified salmon to eat.

It has not happened yet since the US Food and Drug Administration has not given approval as of this time, but they are considering giving approval to genetically modified salmon.

The AquaBounty Technology Company has filed an application that would allow these salmon that are grown from genetically modified or genetically engineered salmon eggs to be used as food. If approved, these fish would be the first genetically modified animal food approved for human consumption.

What is Genetically Modified Salmon

It is the salmon eggs that are genetically modified, combining genetic traits or actually genes from one species into the other species.

The genetically engineered salmon will grow to a marketable size in half of the time that it would take a normal salmon to grow. They have combined the growth hormone from the Pacific Chinook salmon which will cause the Atlantic salmon to grow faster and also use genes from a fish called the pout fish or eelpout which is an eel like fish that has what are called antifreeze proteins that allow the pout fish to survive in near freezing waters and grows in summer and winter. The hormone from the pout fish keeps the Atlantic salmon growth hormone turned on all of the time, so the new genetically modified Atlantic salmon would then be able to grow faster.

The eel pout fish are found in the western Atlantic Ocean off of the coast of New England and Newfoundland and has a tolerance for very cold water temperatures. It has to do with the way the hormones from the Chinook salmon and the pout fish work with the Atlantic salmon.

One important point that AquaBounty technology states in order to get FDA approval is that these genetically modified eggs will be sterile, so that the altered salmon cannot reproduce and get into the natural salmon population. The FDA has found that 5% of these genetically modified eggs are fertile and can reproduce. These genetically modified salmon will be grown only in enclosed fish farms.

Arguments For Genetically Modified Salmon

Proponents of the genetically modified salmon have the same argument they do for genetically modified corn, soy and other plant foods; that it will help increase the food supply. Genetically modified plant foods are made so that they are resistant to herbicides and pesticides and can be sprayed with chemicals and not kill the corn or soy.

It seems the biggest advantage to the salmon would be that they grow to full size in half the time of a normal salmon increasing the food supply of salmon. Certainly a major reason of course is higher profits, larger and rapidly growing Atlantic salmon would certainly mean more profits.

Arguments Against Genetically Modified Salmon

Opponents of the genetically modified salmon say that the science is shoddy and there is no proof that the food is safe for human consumption. A valid concern is that these modified fish could escape into the wild and endanger or even cause the extinction of the normal salmon.

Another major concern is that the new modified salmon could cause allergies in people who have never eaten a pout fish before since certain fish can be highly allergenic in some people. The FDA says that this shouldn’t cause any allergies that aren’t already found in salmon.

Yet another worry is that the FDA process allows companies to keep some of their proprietary information private, which means the FDA doesn’t have all the facts.

Will Genetically Modified Salmon be Approved

As of today, September 21, 2010, the FDA 11 member advisory panel did not reach a decision. The next hearing for the FDA will be to decide if these genetically modified fish should be labeled as such if and when they are ever approved.

I think consumers have a right to know what they are buying and eating so hopefully if or when genetically modified salmon are approved, they will at least have a label stating this. Current FDA law states that genetically modified food does not have to be labeled as such unless the modified food is substantially different than the original food or a known allergen exists such as peanuts. Current FDA thinking is that this genetically modified salmon is basically the same food as the normal salmon.

If approved, it could be sold in two years, but will anyone buy this genetically modified salmon, current polls show a majority would not buy or eat the modified fish.

Is this a boon to the food supply or a danger to real salmon and humans, as some think this genetically modified Franken-fish could be. When new decisions are made or the final decision is made, I will add to this article what the decision is on genetically modified salmon.

Note: Cloned animals are not the same as genetically modified animals.

© September 2010 Sam Montana