FDA lifts import ban for genetically modified salmon eggs

Bubbajim

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In context: The U.S. has long used genetically modified (GM) plant crops in its food chains, but so far has had no GM animals on sale for human consumption. That could be about to change as the Food and Drug Administration lifts an import ban on AquaBounty’s GM salmon eggs.

On Friday the FDA announced that a genetically modified type of salmon will soon be allowed to be imported and reared in the U.S. ahead of new labelling requirements coming into force which ultimately will allow the fish to be sold to consumers. The salmon have been modified with DNA from other species of fish to allow them to grow roughly twice as fast as regular salmon.

Following years of health and safety assessments, the salmon became the first GM animal to be approved for human consumption by the FDA in 2015. But almost immediately after approval, an alert was issued by the FDA prohibiting importing and rearing until labelling regulations caught up.

These new regulations will mandate that companies selling ‘bioengineered’ food will have to label their products as such, and come into force in 2020.

AquaBounty, the company behind the GM salmon breed they have named ‘AquAdvantage’, produce the eggs in their research and development facility in Canada. But now that the FDA’s alert has been 'deactivated', AquaBounty will soon start importing the eggs to their growing facilities in Albany, Indiana. The company has said they expect final certifications for their Albany facility in the coming weeks.

While the salmon’s meat has been approved as safe, many people opposed to GM foods worry about the potential for the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to get into the wild and disrupt natural habitats and food chains. AquaBounty says this won’t be an issue for their salmon, as they are raised in tanks, are modified to be all female, and are sterile.

However not everyone is satisfied. The Center for Food Safety and other interest groups are suing the FDA in order to prevent the salmon being raised and sold.

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Grow twice as fast eh, that is pretty impressive. Maybe GMO consumption will finally start giving people mutant powers.
 
The vast majority of food we eat is GMO.

You don't actually think Carrots are naturally Orange do you?

You don't actually think animal meat is naturally this big do you?

You don't think drinking soda or juice or sugar additives is natural do you?
 
@Bubbajim Who said: "While the salmon’s meat has been approved as safe, many people opposed to GM foods worry about the potential for the genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to get into the wild and disrupt natural habitats and food chains".

In case you haven't heard, we've already destroyed the salmon's natural habitat, with what I believe are called "hydro electric dams". They stop the salmon from swimming upstream to breed. (And yes, I'm aware we've built "salmon steps" next to many damns, which helps, but certainly doesn't eliminate the problem.

This is another case of SJWs, animal rights activists, and snowflakes, talking out both sides of their a**es.

As an example, CITES regulations and animal rights groups, have largely shut down trapping wild animals for zoos.

OTOH, climate change histrionics keep showing polar bears starving to death, floating on a sheet of ice in the Arctic.

I say, why not dart the bear, take it to the zoo,fatten it up, and let it live in safety and abundance, while we enjoy a species we've driving to extinction, assisted by animal rights activists.
The Philadelphia Zoo's polar bear died recently at the ripe old age of 43. (Oldest in captivity). It had a pool, an reasonable sized habitat, and an all you can eat buffet,

"Wild animals need to be free, It should have been turned out into the wild to starve to death at 10 years old", say the animal rights groups.

So forgive the tangent. What I meant to say is, "pretty soon, humans won't have anything but GMOs on our plates, so shut up and eat already". And don't forget to say grace, "we thank our lord god of bioengineering for this pile of meat-like substance..

After all, those less fortunate than ourselves, are in space chowing down on recycled turds.... (Amen)
 
Now, they're trying to ruin salmon too. I hate these people. Continually corrupting the food supply.


HUMAN OVERPOPULATION

I personally feel that humans are supposed to exploit the earth and its resources and then use technology to spread to other planets.

Many of us will get sick and die, but those of us who survive will be the most fit to survive. Obesity may end up being a survival adaptation - like how animals have extra fat in case food is scarce.

There is NO way to do that without GMO simply because technology allows us to pack calories into smaller and smaller portions.

The vast majority of food we have is GMO. Even the water has additives.

Hunger should be eradicated eventually simply because of GMO.
 
HUMAN OVERPOPULATION

I personally feel that humans are supposed to exploit the earth and its resources and then use technology to spread to other planets.

Many of us will get sick and die, but those of us who survive will be the most fit to survive. Obesity may end up being a survival adaptation - like how animals have extra fat in case food is scarce.

There is NO way to do that without GMO simply because technology allows us to pack calories into smaller and smaller portions.

The vast majority of food we have is GMO. Even the water has additives.

Hunger should be eradicated eventually simply because of GMO.
Yeah right, just as soon as you figure out a way for us to get past that little bump in the road called, "the speed of light".

Besides, (as I said before), the space adventurers of yours won't even have GMOs, they'll be munching on recycled poop. Oh well, at least nobody will be hogging all the seconds.
 
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Hmm; there goes Salmon Egg Sushi (sigh)

There seems to also be a correlation of gluten intolerance to GMO grains, as Italian grains are not GMO and travelers can enjoy all the pasta they choose w/o a reaction.
 
No, I was referring to the suggestion that GMO grains have anything to do with gluten intolerance, which they don't.

Wheat is the grain used in pasta and isn't genetically modified in any case, so I don't see the correlation.
 
...[ ]....To avoid hijacking this topic, I'll refer you to search for "GMO grains in Europe"
Then by your leave, allow me to hijack it for you. :rolleyes:
There seems to also be a correlation of gluten intolerance to GMO grains, as Italian grains are not GMO and travelers can enjoy all the pasta they choose w/o a reaction.
A Wheat / Rye hybrid, "triticale" was mentioned in the OST episode, "The Trouble with Tribbles". The Enterprise was on a cargo mission, to supply a struggling planet with food grain. In this case, they were calling it "Quadro-triticalene". One can only guess if they were referring to an octoploid variant of the grain.

So, 1st generation triticale is "allotetraploid", which means it has a full haploid set of chromosomes from each species parent.

According to Wiki, it has more protein and LESS gluten than either parent:

"The protein content is higher than that of wheat, although the glutenin fraction is less. The grain has also been stated to have higher levels of lysine than wheat.[4] Acceptance would require the milling industry to adapt to triticale, as the milling techniques employed for wheat are unsuited to triticale. Sell et al.[5] found triticale could be used as a feed grain, and later research found its starch was particularly readily digested".

In case anyone is interested in something as mundane as plant genetics, here is the full page on this topic: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triticale

In any case, we humans might be getting more inbred, as we have grouped ourselves into racial, ethnic, and religious groups. In fact, the Amish people of Pennsylvania have begun to show problematic genetic issues by virtue of their tightly knit community. So, why not at least consider that the grains are not entirely the problem, and the human genome could at least be playing a part.

Consider too, that the humble grape or raisin is quite toxic to cats. And chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs.

Lactose intolerance is another common issue with humans. However, we are the only species which can digest lactose after weaning.

Here's a map of the dairy challenged populations of the world:

1280px-Worldwide_prevalence_of_lactose_intolerance_in_recent_populations.jpg
 
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No, I was referring to the suggestion that GMO grains have anything to do with gluten intolerance, which they don't.

Wheat is the grain used in pasta and isn't genetically modified in any case, so I don't see the correlation.
Triticum Taxonomy. Wheat belongs to the genusTriticum, for which there are 10 species, six which are cultivated and four which are not. The most economically important species, T. aestivum, has five subspecies

Might as well toss this in here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat
 
OK kidz, this is one of my "FWIW" posts.

Everyone has a different take, peeve, fear, or call it what you will about "genetically modified organisms".

One has to assume this is wrong because people believe something accomplished in a laboratory is by nature "bad", or "evil" or "harmful".

The human species has been "genetically modifying organisms", for well over 10,000 years. We call them :"domesticated animals" Both selective breeding tactics, and hybridization have give us some of the most useful, and beautiful, friendly creatures, both for companions, and sadly, some provide us with sustenance.

Some modifications are for purpose, some are for beauty, and some simply because we can.

The animal which has taken the brunt of man's influence on its genetic makeup, is the wolf.

"Man's best friend", is a result of centuries of selective breeding, and shares the same genus and species name as the common gray timberwolf, Canis lupis lupis, the dog is a subspecies, Canis lupis familiaris.

In any case, centuries of man's interference the wolf's genome has left us with a wide range of animals to choose from. Some are working animals, some are herding animals, some are fighting animals, and some are vanity accessories. In point of fact, we have tampered with the wolf's genetics more so than any other creature's on the planet.

These salmon eggs could likely have been achieved through selective breeding, the need is present, but not the time.

It does give one pause to wonder how man could take as beautiful and elegant as creature as this:

gray_wolves_158275320.jpg


And turn it into a monstrosity such as this:

3-sidesitting.jpg


The AKC registers 202 separate breeds of dogs. You'd have to say, "that's one hell of a 'genetically modified organism'".
 
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I will continue to stick with wild-caught salmon, thanks!

Soon say goodbye too wildcaught salmon.they are getting smaller and smaller.and fewer and fewer.the farm salmon will one day contaminate our wild stocks and game over.better find something else to enjoy.
 
The amount of people saying the "majority of food is GMO" have no idea what they're talking about.

Selective breeding of old isn't lab genetic modification which is being referred to as "GMO": Genetic engineering. Plants designed to resist a toxic pesticide instead of dying like normal ones is the #1 widely known "GMO".

The modern "GMO" is damaging to the environment as a whole, notably because of said massive use of pesticides/herbicides (destroying soil, killing animals and harming workers..), not to mention seed contamination to conventional (non-GMO)/organic farming. Plus, the "GMO" seeds have literal patents on them, and companies like Monsanto can sue you over it, even if their seed contaminated your fields at no fault of your own. Add in the damaging effects of consuming said produce full of the toxicity and you've got a health crisis on your hands, as America full well knows (though this is only a part of the major issues with the food industry).

TLDR: Selective breeding of old is safe and not what we call "GMO". Genetically engineered plants ("GMO"), and now animals, are not.
 
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