GMO food. Pros and Cons of the Genetically Engineered Salmon Fish

Pros and Cons of the Genetically Engineered Salmon Fish
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Pros and Cons of the Genetically Engineered Salmon Fish
Introduction
With all the debates regarding genetically engineered foodstuffs, the FDA in 2015 approved the AquAdvantage salmon which is a genetically modified fish. In the past, the US government had been rigid when it comes to genetically modified animals but on 19th November 2015, the American government decided to accommodate the genetically engineered salmon. While the US government had already given a green-light on several vegetable products, it was still adamant about allowing a genetically animal for human consumption. However, the decision by the FDA ended AquaBounty’s wait. Ledford notes that this decision “could also revitalize an industry that has waited a long time for any sign that its products might make it to market.” Aside from the above, one can also say that the decision also opens up the possibility of extensive harnessing of this technology. Companies are expected to make heavy leaps and ensure that this decision is only the beginning of an endless adoption of more genetically engineered animals into the food market. The above does remain largely debatable but far from it, this article seeks to delve deeper into the matter and reveal the details concerning the AquAdvantage salmon, objections on the same as well as the pros and cons.[Ledford, Heidi. “Salmon Approval Heralds Rethink of Transgenic Animals.” Nature. November 23, 2015. /news/salmon-approval-heralds-rethink-of-transgenic-animals-1.18867]
Details/Background Information
AquaBounty Technologies is the company that has been spearheading the move to have the genetically engineered salmon adopted and considered fit for human consumption. First of all, Waltz writes that this particular fish is “engineered to grow faster than its non-genetically modified counterpart, reaching market size in roughly half the time – about 18 months.” Well, the above is an advantage that further seeks to show that the genetically engineered fish is a few steps ahead of the non-genetically engineered one.[Waltz, Emily. “First Genetically Engineered Salmon Sold in Canada.” Scientific American. August 7, 2017. /article/first-genetically-engineered-salmon-sold-in-canada/]
The idea of genetically modifying a fish started in the 90s and by 1995, AquaBounty Technologies had already sent its first application to FDA to have the salmon approved. However, it took the FDA more than fifteen years to complete food-safety assessment of the fish. In 2012, the agency had also completed the environmental impact statement concerning the fish which it determined will have a negligible environmental impact especially when the preferred growing areas are the landlocked tanks which AquaBounty uses. However, environmentalists have been battling the adoption of the salmon as food but FDA’s statement made it a little easier for the fish to make its way into the food market. In Canada, for example, Waltz writes that the “genetically engineered salmon has reached the dinner table.” Apparently, AquaBounty had managed to sell 4.5 tons of the fish to its clients in Canada. S...