FX.co ★ United States approves genetically modified salmon

Despite rather liberal laws, the United States is extremely cautious about food quality regulations. By now, genetically modified foods were prohibited, and this is the first time ever when a genetically modified salmon has been approved for human consumption. The Food and Drug Administration issued a permission following extensive research. Experts at the FDA approached the possible aftereffects of consuming this kind of fish very scrupulously. AquaBounty Technologies submitted an application to the FDA back in 2003. It took twelve years for the experts to conclude that the product is harmful for human health. It is reported that in the course of studies, the FDA did not find any difference in biological or nutritional properties of the salmon. The only difference of the AquAdvantage salmon from the biological species is the speed of growing. The modified salmon reaches maturity twice or even three times faster, but the DNA inserted into the fish to boost its growth does not make any damage to human. Besides, the modified species are not harmful for natural environment; genetically altered fish is reproductively sterile, so even in the event of an escape from the fish farm into the wild, it would be unable to breed. AquaBounty Technologies was one of the first companies that started to grow genetically modified salmon and it has been engaged in this activity since 1989.