FDA Considers the First Genetically Engineered Food Animal
Consideration of the first genetically engineered food animals, the AquAdvantage salmon, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues.
This salmon has been genetically engineered to reach its market weight in half the time of conventionally raised salmon thus contributing to more sustainable aquaculture systems. On December 21, 2012, the FDA released the long-awaited environmental assessment (EA) of the GE AquAdvantage salmon.
The FDA EA concluded that the salmon would have “no significant impact” on the environment. The agency also said the salmon was “as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon.” The agency’s draft environmental assessment is subject to a 60 day comment period.