Food & Water Watch: Fight For Your Right to Have Genetically Engineered Foods Labeled
Categories: Ethical Eating, Health News
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| A film about genetically engineered fish. |
By now, most people are aware of the controversy surrounding genetically engineered (GE) foods. You know: giant tomatoes designed to taste super-sweet, corn that naturally repels insects, and virus-resistent papayas.
As debate continues over the safety of our nation's genetically modified grains and vegetables, a new type of genetic modification is making its way to a plate near you: genetically modified animals.
We recently reported on the "Frankenfish," AquaBounty's GE salmon. In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration began paving the way for approval the fish, known as AquAdvantage. Designed to look like its natural Atlantic salmon cousin, it can reach market size in half the time -- so it can get to market sooner and make more money, faster.
Recently, the FDA declared the all-female, sterile salmon would have "no significant food safety hazards or risks," but many environmentalists remain concerned, suggesting the fish could contain harmful hormones, while a small percentage of these "Frankenfish" may remain fertile, and would most certainly escape man-made confines to contaminate naturally-occurring species.
While the "Frankenfish" may not be on your plate just yet, as the first transgenic animal approved for human consumption, it could open the floodgates for other genetically modified animals like cows and pigs.
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