Hey Guys check this article I stumbled upon a few hours ago.
The biotechnology industry has genetically engineered a fish that grows at twice the normal rate and requires 10% less food. It is otherwise known as the AquaAdvantage Salmon. While it grows faster, and reaches mature sizes earlier than standard salmon, they claim that it doesn’t get bigger.
Obviously, this makes sense if you are a fish farmer and want to increase your margins, but what about for human consumption?
If the FDA gives the green light to introduce the AquaAdvantage Salmon into fish farms it will be the first genetically engineered animal released for human consumption and they won’t be required to label the fish. So essentially, even if you don’t want to eat it, you won’t know the difference. What bothers me more is the fact that we have no idea what the short or long-term effects will be on humans. An additional concern is the urgency of launching this super salmon program into effect. What is the hurry? If given the green light, the super salmon will reach our plates within two years.
Lastly, without trying to add extra emotion or fear, fish today, what tomorrow? There is already talk of releasing genetically engineered pig for human consumption; the “enviropig“. There are better, sustainable solutions to the problems that industrial, factory farmers are facing….called traditional farming! The problem is the margins are much smaller and power lies in the hands of the big guys. While farmers are trying resolve pretty big environmental issues caused by their unsound and unnatural farming methods, they are pouring starter fluid to an already blazing fire. There are small farmers who are using farming models that protect humans, animals, and the environment.
Lastly, there is the question; where do we draw the line? Once we head down this road, is there a turning back? How far will we take this and what will be the end result? Produce and meat today…humans tomorrow? At what point do we start determining whether it is a “real” animal or not? Is this new science that far off from what Hitler’s philosophy?
If approved, GE salmon would be the first “transgenic” animal allowed into our food supply. It’s also unlikely that it would have to be labeled, so you won’t even know you’re eating it.
In her blog post FDA Hearings Go Swimmingly for Frankenfish, Martha Rosenburg explains how the super salmon is created:
The AquAdvantage Salmon was created by inserting the coding sequence from a chinook salmon growth hormone gene, under control of an ocean pout gene, into wild Atlantic salmon. The resulting fish grows twice as fast as wild Atlantic salmon, reaching its full size in 18 months instead of three years.
Though the fish, all female, are 95 to 99 percent sterile, Boston-based AquaBounty Technologies’ (ABT), its developer, says eggs will be grown on Prince Edward Island in Canada and adults in Panama because the respective marine environments discourage survival of escapees.
The FDA has approved GE crops, genetically modified growth hormone (BGH) used in milk and, last year, a goat with human genes to create a blood clotting drug. But the AquAdvantage Salmon is the first GE animal whose flesh will actually be eaten.
Today there is over 300 million crops planted to GE corn and soybean that is inedible in its natural form. The majority is used as animal feed, while the rest is processed and manipulated for human consumption and is found in almost ALL processed foods.
Get the facts and learn everything about the AquaAdvantage Salmon and Enviropig at the Food & Water Watch Website. Your voice matters. Click the link below and vote to stop GE salmon from reaching our plates.
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Topic: From Hybrid Cars to Hybrid Fish? Genetically Engineered Salmon (Super Salmon) (Read 3682 times)