The FDA is eerily close to approving genetically modified salmon for human consumption. These “AquAdvantage” fish, as the company that created them calls them, are Atlantic salmon that are genetically altered to contain a growth hormone gene from a Chinook salmon as well as a genetic “on-switch” from the ocean pout, a distant relative of the salmon. Normally, salmon do not make growth hormone in cold weather, but the pout’s “on-switch” keeps production of the hormone going year round. The result is salmon that can grow to market size in 16 to 18 months instead of three years.
Two salmon of the same age, fed the same diet, one genetically modified, one not.
The company that created these mutants assures the FDA that they are the “identical in every measurable way” (no pun intended, one assumes) to traditional farmed Atlantic salmon, but this is one giant (pun intended)science experiment I’m NOT willing to be a participant in.
This growth-enhancing genetic modification is already approved in chickens and there are scientists working to develop other genetically engineered animals, like cattle resistant to mad cow disease, or pigs that could supply healthier bacon. Next in line behind the salmon for possible approval would probably be the “enviropig,” developed at a Canadian university, which has less phosphorus pollution in its manure.
![Layer hen (front) and broiler [meat] hen (back), same age, one genetically modified, one not.](http://www.powered-by-produce.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Layer-and-broiler-300x211.jpg "Layer-and-broiler")
Layer hen (front) and broiler {meat} hen (back), same age, one genetically modified, one not.
We pump out millions of pigs per second; their massive amounts of crap are ruining our planet; so doesn’t the logical solution seem to be to stop pumping out so damn many pigs? No, apparently we think it’s better to genetically modify something that nature spent billions of years perfecting so that we can continue our gluttonous habits and possibly kill ourselves with the side effects in the future. (Or maybe we’ll just genetically modify ourselves to be resistant to the effects of digesting genetically modified pig. Because that’s the American way.)
There has not yet been a generation that’s eaten genetically modified (GM) foods for their entire life, so we have no research to show the long-term effects of this on our health (which is why 30 countries have already banned GM foods). American children are the guinea pigs.
It is likely that the GM salmon will not be labeled (no other GM foods are currently labeled), so you will have absolutely no way of avoiding the GM salmon, should you choose to eat salmon. One would assume that organic salmon guarantees no genetically modified organisms (as I’ve previously explained the strict regulations on organic labeling); however, the organic program does not currently have standards that pertain to seafood. “We may someday address aquatic species. It just hasn’t happened,” says Joan Shaffer, National Organics Program spokeswoman. Then why is there salmon with “organic” labels in our stores? The USDA regulates only the use of the organic seal, not the use of the word “organic,” so companies are free to place the word “organic” on their products whether or not they have been certified. Just another deceptive marketing tactic used by the food industry to mislead the public.
Plus, what happens when these unnatural fish get into the oceans? (And, yes, they inevitably will.) It is already speculated that they would out-compete wild fish for food and mates, spread their modified genes (which we do not know the effects of) throughout the population, and I imagine this could seriously alter some food chains. (And surely we all know the dangers of altering seemingly unimportant food chains, right?)
How far will we take this? At what point does “playing God” become a bad idea?
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Breakfast: Smoothie with banana, mixed berries (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry) and cauliflower (strange choice, I know, but I had some in the fridge & gave it a shot – it worked out well!)
Lunch: Tomato soup and crackers
Dinner: Spaghetti with meatless meatballs
4 comments
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Molly says:
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 1:07 am (UTC -5)
You’re not alone. This scares the hell out of me… paralyzes me. I don’t know what to do about it.
AmyT says:
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 9:59 am (UTC -5)
Yes, this is so very troublesome. I remember when I read about Monsanto messing with seeds in the book “Diet for a New America” over a decade ago. I was astounded what was going on, how could this be allowed to happen? Now look where we are in 2010, fish, chickens and even people modified genetically. Prefer blue eyes over brown… It makes me sick and mad.
There seems to be such a disconnect in our country about food. As long as it’s cheap who cares what goes on with it…
I think I will end up just living on coffee in the end. No joke, when I go to the grocery store I am at such a loss at what to buy. Unlike you I am not vegan (yet). I still buy local eggs and eat some cheese (pizza mostly). Raising a toddler is challenging, I can’t wait till he goes to school and is the lone veg kid. No Lunchables or hotdogs. I hope he doesn’t get teased because of it…
Powered By Produce says:
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 10:55 am (UTC -5)
Ah yes, raising vegetarian kids… I think about this alot, actually! I don’t have kids, but I know that when I do, I (obviously) want to raise them vegetarian.
One of my favorite blogs is the Vegan Lunch Box which shows the vegan lunches that are packed for her elementary-age son every day. (She isn’t adding any new content, but you can go back through the years of old posts. Start with the oldest.) She even has a podcast about her son fitting in at school.
I also came accross this list of vegetarian books for children. And here’s one additional veggie kid book. I think it will be critical to explain to the child WHY your family chooses to not eat animals. But, the Vegan Lunch Box once had a post (I can’t seem to find it at the moment) about her son asking why everyone else thinks it’s ok to eat meat – don’t they know they are hurting animals? I think that would be a pretty difficult question to address.
Here’s a few other interesting articles as well :)
High IQ Link to Being Vegetarian
Why Vegetarian Children Will Rule the World
AmyT says:
Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 3:04 pm (UTC -5)
good info, thanks! Thankfully I have a pediatrician that supports our views. It’s funny my boy doesn’t eat meat (has cheese, local eggs, organic milk) and has NEVER been sick, except two short lived fevers in 19mos. Perhaps because he’s not in a daycare environment? I like to attribute it to all the healthy vegetables. He does not look anemic or puny either. Was a nine pound baby and I was vegetarian while pregnant.
He can make his own choice one day by all means. I will be open and honest however. I remember as a child seeing awful things like elephants chained by the leg at the Cleveland Zoo, animals pacing back and forth endlessly in their “exhibits”, animals being transported by trucks to slaughter. It made a huge impact on me. Yes- I still have progress to make in the dairy area. But no petting zoos, circuses or crap like that. I hate how children are so innocent and are fed the lie by society that animals like being made into hot dogs. Once again another example of how we like to disconnect from the awful truth.