FDA to consider OK of genetically engineered salmon

Brought to you by CNN: 
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/09/20/genetic.engineered.salmon.hearing/?hpt=T2

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a hearing Monday as it considers whether to approve genetically engineered salmon for human consumption.

If approved it would be the first genetically modified animal permitted by the food safety agency. 

A company, AquAdvantage Salmon, has injected growth hormones into Atlantic salmon that enable the fish to reach maturity in half the normal growth time, 16 to 18 months, rather than 30 months.

The FDA in an analysis dated Monday, wrote: "We therefore conclude the food from AquAdvantage Salmon that is the subject of this application is as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon and that there is a reasonable certainty of no harm from the consumption of food from this animal."

But critics worry about the possible health effects of eating fish containing the growth hormone."

"It's impossible to talk about the risks other than saying they haven't been properly assessed, other than process has been rushed and we don't know," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food and Water Watch. She added that the FDA is a "very stressed agency" with all the latest recalls and outbreaks, that it "can't ensure the safety of the foods they currently regulate."

Hauter said that the FDA has relied too heavily on information provided by AquAdvantage and that there should be a more extended time given to thoroughly vet and discuss risks.

A final decision is expected in a few weeks.

My question to you:
If the FDA approves most of our beef and chicken (which are injected w/ growth hormones and raised on an unnatural diet of corn and grains), doesn't that mean Salmon would be the THIRD GMO animal to be approved by that terrible gov't organization and not the FIRST?

That is exactly what Americans need.  More food-like "food."  How about we raise animals to grow they way they are suppose to...on a natural diet and without growth hormones.  I'd rather pay more for grass-fed, hormone free meat and poultry than for some sort of food-like product that I'm not sure is even good for me in the first place.


And as my friend, Dan, pointed out:
"Seafood is one of the only untouched foods in this world...why do we humans always have to adapt this world to our needs... not even needs, our wants"