FDA Says Yes to Genetically Engineered Salmon
Wow, Vincent Price would be proud. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is all set to approve genetically engineered salmon; giving this salmon from the black lagoon a thumbs up for human consumption. When reached for comment, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein said, “Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide gorilla?”
Genetically engineered salmon are growing machines. These fish are designed to produce hormones year-round and grow at twice the rate of natural salmon; meaning farmers get high yields all year long. But it’s a risky proposition.
Salmon cooked up in a lab could escape into the wild and outbreed natural populations or interbreed and create hybrid fish. And if humans eat these Franken-fish, the health effects could be disastrous. While the health impacts are still largely unknown, the “transgenes” present in genetically engineered salmon may interfere with the body and can not be stopped once it enters the body, i.e. consumed. Like the aliens that pop out your stomach?
So obviously, until extensive and long term studies are conducted, genetically engineered salmon – or any food for that matter – should not be allowed willy-nilly to enter our food system, and potentially our ecosystem.
If this FDA approval makes you mad, visit The True Food Network website for details on what you can do and you can attend the September 19th hearing for approving the genetically engineered salmon. You really should get involved. What else are you going to do, sit at home playing World of Warcraft all day?
Ugh, the government and the FDA is always up to monkey business when it comes to food safety; like allowing contaminated chicken to get into supermarkets and backing legislation that threatens organic farms. Fail.
Image credit: bthomso
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