Coalition of Non-Profits Wages War on Genetically Engineered Salmon

Salmon are known for their remarkable ability to swim against strong currents. Perhaps, then, we shouldn't be surprised that efforts to keep genetically engineered (GE) salmon from reaching our plates has felt like an upstream battle. (OK, maybe that's not the cleanest metaphor, but this fight has been far from clean.) Despite warnings from scientists, environmentalists, senators, government agencies, the general public, and even its own advisory panel, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seems hell-bent on moving forward with the approval of AquaBounty Technologies' AquAdvantage GE salmon.

Thankfully we now have a coalition of 31 stalwart organizations waging war on GE salmon and working to halt the approval of what would be the first transgenic animal approved for human consumption. The coalition is demanding that more testing be conducted to determine the safety of GE salmon for humans and the environment, or at the very least require mandatory labeling if the approval goes through. Other members of the participating organizations are working to protect existing wild salmon fisheries to ensure a safe alternative for consumers. You may recognize many of the national organizations from the coalition — including the Center for Food Safety, Food and Water Watch and the Organic Consumers Association — yet others operate on a smaller scale, such as the Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association and the Alaska Marine Conservation Council, raising concerns about how this national decision will impact the local level.

The public comment period for the FDA's ruling came to a close this Monday, and with more than 400,000 comments against the approval sent from supporters of the coalition organizations, you would think that the FDA would sit up and take notice. And this is far from the first large-scale show of public resistance to the commercialization of GE salmon. The coalition points out that a Lake Research Partners poll commissioned by Food and Water Watch earlier this year revealed that 91 percent of respondents believe that the FDA should not allow transgenic meat near the market. In 2008, a nationwide Consumer's Union poll showed that 95 percent of respondents believed that if GE animals were to be sold, they should require labeling.

Should the FDA move forward with the approval of Frankenfish, the agency would be turning a deaf ear to the very public it's purported to protect. Without more transparency, public engagement, and further safety assessments, the coalition argues that the FDA would be blatantly ignoring "the numerous human health, environmental and animal welfare concerns" raised thus far.

Yes, we as a country sure do love to eat plenty of salmon, but we also enjoy knowing that what we put on our plate is safe. Rushing the approval of GE salmon and allowing AquaBounty a free pass is not the proper way to address the growing demand for fish. By orchestrating a cohesive public rally cry, the coalition will hopefully shake up the FDA enough to halt the approval of GE salmon. Want to add your voice to the fray?  Sign our petition to stop genetically engineered salmon from reaching your plate.

Photo credit: Jeremy Keith via Flickr