A new organism is about to hit your dinner table but you’ll never know. For the first time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the go-ahead to AquaBounty Technologies to produce the first-ever approved “GM animal”—a genetically modified salmon that grows to market size in half the time a normal fish would, thanks to a growth hormone gene spliced into its DNA.
What are the risks?
The government says it’s safe, but is it reasonable to be concerned that the salmon, or consumers, might be vulnerable to existing or new strains of bacteria, allergens, and toxins that might evolve along with the new fish? This is especially concerning due to the lack of regulation or transparency on the sale of genetically-engineered (GE) salmon, as sellers aren’t required to label the products, making it difficult to avoid this type of food.
Bigger animals, bigger profits, bigger risks
The use of growth hormones in animals is nothing new, and the concerns over their effects on our health have been around for a while too. Since the 1930s and 1950s, scientists have been inserting hormones into cows and chickens in order to produce more milk or make them grow bigger. While studies have not yet provided solid evidence that the addition of hormones in meat or dairy products cause any human health effects, many researchers believe there is a strong connection.
For example, in the last couple of decades, girls have been entering puberty at a much earlier age. This is especially concerning because early puberty in girls has been associated with a higher risk for breast cancer. Dr. Stanley Korneman, an endocrinologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, says that environmental exposure to estrogens in plastics, chemicals, and foods could be the link to the early onset of puberty and breast enlargement in young boys.
Potential harm?
While GE salmon are not injected with hormones, as has been the usual mode of delivery for farm animals, there’s no way of knowing that the genetically-engineered growth hormone won’t present the same potential for harm. Especially when considering the amount of IGF-1 that may be present in the salmon.
IGF-1 is a protein known as insulin-dependent growth factor-1. People with elevated levels appear to have a higher risk of developing cancer. Higher levels of IGF-1 in blood have been found in women with breast cancer compared to women without breast cancer.
Jeffrey Smith, Executive Director of the Institute for Responsible Technology, conducted an interview where he shared that scientists worldwide have rejected the safety testing protocols used by AquaBounty Technologies, calling them superficial and reckless. “The risk of allergies, hormonal disruption, novel proteins, and other serious issues, known and unknown, exist in these fast-growing, gene-altered salmon,” Smith said.
Bigger fish, less nutrition
Most health practitioners agree that processed and GM foods carry risks. A fish that has been engineered certainly can’t be considered a natural whole food—the best kind of food for your health. Whole foods are nutrient-rich, and wild sockeye salmon is high in essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids. It’s been reported that GE salmon have lower levels of omega-3s and B12, but higher levels of contamination like other farm-raised fish.
Environmental activists have raised alarms about the possible danger to natural fish populations. Though AquaBounty Technologies claims GE salmon are sterile, the FDA has forbidden the breeding of AquAdvantage salmon on US territory. Canadian scientists have discovered that GE Atlantic salmon can cross-breed with wild brown trout and pass on the extra genes for quick growth to their offspring.
Take control of what’s on your table
While we may not be able to control the possible environmental impact of GE salmon, we can take control over what ends up on our plates. Opt for wild Alaskan salmon whenever possible and consider shopping at stores that have pledged not to sell GE salmon, like Costco, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Target, and Kroger.
By approving GE salmon, the FDA has taken our growing concerns over the known dangers of GMO crops—which include cancer, autism, and more—and upped the ante by approving for our consumption an animal whose DNA has been altered. The lack of labeling requirements also presents consumers with a challenge in avoiding these salmon in their diets. Stay informed and make conscious decisions about the food you consume.
