Label genetically modified salmon: fish farmers
September 14, 2010 CBC News
Genetically modified salmon should carry an identifying label if the product is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance says.
Scientists with the FDA released research this month that concluded salmon genetically modified by the company Aqua Bounty was safe to eat and not substantially different from other salmon.
The U.S. company has a major rearing operation on Prince Edward Island, and the possible escape of its salmon into the wild is a major concern of groups opposing the FDA approval process.
The fish is engineered to grow at twice the rate of unmodified salmon.
A survey by the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance showed there is opposition to genetically modified salmon in the marketplace. Executive director Ruth Salmon worries sales of Canadian farmed salmon could be hurt if Aqua Bounty fish is approved, and the FDA doesn't demand it be clearly labelled a genetically modified product.
"Consumers will wonder what they're eating," Salmon said. "Anytime you introduce a new product there's potential confusion."
Read the full story on CBC News.
Read related stories:
- Huffington Post; October 27, 2010; "Don't Eat the Mutants"
Posted September 14th, 2010
