Center for Food Safety as well as additional plaintiffs plan to sue the US Food and Drug Administration over its recent approval of AquaBounty’s AquaAdvantage® salmon for human consumption. As far as consumption goes, this is the first genetically modified animal to receive the agency’s green light.
The transgenic salmon was approved for sale and consumption by the FDA even though millions of Americans and 40 members of congress opposed it. Additionally, more than 300 environmental, civic, and animal welfare organizations, as well as supermarkets, have made their opposition vocal as well.
Andrew Kimbrell, executive director of Center for Food Safety said:
“The fallout from this decision will have enormous impact on the environment. Center for Food Safety has no choice but to file suit to stop the introduction of this dangerous contaminant.”
In a shocking refusal to listen to consumer complaints and concerns, the agency has supported biotech interests once again while ignoring public health. Receiving more responses than the agency has ever had to wade through, 2 million people made remarks during the FDA’s open comment period concerning the GM fish.
Kimbrell continued:
“The review process by FDA was inadequate, failed to fully examine the likely impacts of the salmon’s introduction, and lacked a comprehensive analysis. This decision sets a dangerous precedent, lowering the standards of safety in this country. CFS will hold FDA to their obligations to the American people.”
AquaBounty has also been accused of failing to follow basic environmental regulations in Panama, where the experimental fish are being raised after being shipped there from Prince Edward Island in Canada. Environmental groups have sued Canada’s government for allowing the GE salmon eggs to be produced there, potentially putting ecosystems and species such as wild salmon at risk.
One study has already proven that the GM salmon can successfully mate with wild brown trout, an entirely different species of fish, conceivably putting much marine life in jeopardy.
Unfortunately, this GMO creation will not even be labeled. Perhaps we need to speak a little louder to be heard.