A battle over whether the US government should require special labels for genetically modified foods is set to heat up after a type of salmon on Thursday became the first biotech animal approved for human consumption.
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“The data demonstrated that the inserted genes remained stable over several generations of fish, that food from the GE salmon is safe to eat by humans and animals, that the genetic engineering is safe for the fish, and the salmon meets the sponsor’s claim about faster growth”, explained the FDA in a statement.
Retailers including Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target and Kroger have all said they are not planning to sell AquAdvantage Salmon.
“The labeling battle is a particularly big deal”, said Dana Perls, food and technology campaigner for Friends of the Earth.
“AquAdvantage Salmon is a game-changer that brings healthy and nutritious food to consumers in an environmentally responsible manner without damaging the ocean and other marine habitats”, said Ronald L. Stotish, Ph.D., CEO of AquaBounty. The AquAdvantage salmon is an Atlantic salmon.
More than five years ago, the agency said that the fish would be safe for consumption as well as would cause no harm to the environment.
The agency is accepting public comments on its voluntary labeling guidelines for 60 days starting on November 23.
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The FDA says the law does not require the fish, when it hits store shelves, to be labeled as engineered. FDA also found that the multiple containment measures taken by land-based production facilities are sufficient to prevent the fish from mixing with wild populations. This, despite poll after poll showing that Americans want GMO labeling. Consumers have a right to know whether their food has been genetically engineered so they can make informed choices about what they eat and purchase.
