Health Law

Fast-Growing Salmon Causes a Splash

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Whether grilled, fried, baked or broiled, Salmon, an oily-fish present in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, is one of the most widely consumed species of fish in the world.  As an important source of protein, vitamin D and Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, the numerous health benefits the fish provides, as well as its appealing taste, have positioned it as a staple food in many diets.  As the quantity of salmon available from natural stocks decline, farm-raised fish have become an increasingly important source in supplying the market.  Continued innovation in the production of salmon has led to the creation of a "Genetically Engineered" (GE), fast-growing version of the fish that is able to reach market size (2 kilograms) in around half the time of wild salmon.  If granted final approval from the FDA, GE salmon would become the first commercially available fish of its kind, and would likely open the door for other GE animals to enter the food supply.  Although the FDA recently indicated that the fish is safe for human consumption, it has not been approved yet. Detractors of the decision have raised concerns as to the possible safety risks that they believe the salmon may pose.

What is Genetically Engineered?

So what exactly does "Genetically Engineered" mean?  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Genetically Engineered Organisms (like foods) are defined as "organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally... [allowing for] selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, and also between non-related species."  GE technology has been used to create vaccines, disease and insect resistant crops, and, in the case of salmon, to increase the speed of growth.  GE falls under the large umbrella of food biotechnology, but is also a rather broad designation itself.  The salmon currently at issue fall within a subset of GE foods known as "transgenic".  Transgenic technology is the science of transferring genetic material from one species in order to create specific traits in a different species.  In the case of the fast-growing salmon, genes from the pout fish were combined with the chinook salmon, giving it the ability to grow in cold water, and thus decreasing the time needed for the fish to reach market weight.

GE Salmon Potential Benefits

There are many possible benefits to the introduction of fast-growing salmon.  If producers of farm-raised salmon are able to supply more of the fish than previously possible, it will create a greater opportunity for consumers to enjoy the many healthy nutrients that salmon provides.  Additionally, less stress would be placed on wild sources of the fish, allowing for natural stocks to rebound.  Innovations in food production, such as biotechnology, make sustainable food production possible by producing more output while using fewer resources.  This is an increasingly important criterion for food production as the population grows, and as more of a focus is placed on protecting the environment than has been in the past.  Similar applications of biotechnology can also improve the quality of food and increase safety.

GE Salmon Questions

As with the introduction of any new technology, critics have voiced skepticism.  The FDA has responded to concerns regarding studies which found a non-statistically significant increase in cancer incidence associated with the growth hormone IGF-1, by stating that the level of the growth hormone present is in such small quantities that it will have no negative impact on human health.  Another issue that has been cited by detractors is that the GE salmon could disrupt eco-systems if it were to escape into the wild.  The developers of the technology have promised that the salmon will only be raised on inland farms and therefore pose no risk of escape into coastal waters. 

History has shown that change is constant, and foods produced through biotechnology are part of this change.  As the human population continues to evolve, so does the technology that we use to best meet our needs given the limited resources provided by nature.   It is understandable for people to fear change, but we should all try to not let our emotions overcome the science.

"Fast-Growing Salmon Causes a Splash" by Matt Thoman originally appeared in the International Food Information Council's Food Insight Blog on Oct. 7, 2010.  Reprinted with permission.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on October 11, 2010 (boomark / email).