GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SALMON SOON AVAILABLE

GENETICALLY ENGINEERED SALMON SOON AVAILABLE

Genetically engineered salmon will  be the first genetically modified animal to enter the American food supply..Genetically engineered animals are regulated by the FDA under rules  covering animal drugs.   The salmon can be grown in 16 to 18 months instead of the 30 months required for a regular farmed Atlantic salmon.

A company called  AquaBounty Technologies of Waltham, Mass., has for years tried to get approval for this salmon engineering. The salmon are referred to as ABT  salmon.  The FDA will make its final decision at the end of the month.  It will take 2 to 3 years for the fish to reach American supermarkets.

 The salmon is called a tripoloid,monosex (all female) Atlantic salmon is referred to as AquaAdvantage Salmon.   The company included data and information on  diploid male and female GE  salmon as well as triploid  female GE salmon of the same lineage. 

Groups of consumer, environmental, animal welfare, and fisheries are in greatly opposed to this venture. They are concerned that the salmon could escape  and compete with wild salmon for food and mates.

 Aqua bounty argues that the salmon will be grown only inland. Only sterile females will be sold limiting their ability to reproduce. Critics are unconvinced since most of the conclusions were submitted by the company.  

FDA FINDINGS

 Since no foods is completely safe, the FDA lookED for any difference between food from the  ABT salmon and other Atlantic salmon.  The FDA concluded that the salmon meets the standard of identity for Atlantic salmon, and is the same as food from other Atlantic salmon. 

No biologically relevant differences were detected nor any endogenous  metabolite.  There also were no biologically relevant differences in the composition or edible tissue components of amino acids, minerals, vitamins and fatty acids. The salmon contained the expected amount of nutritionally important omega three and six at an  appropriate ratio for a fish source.

FDA CONCERNS

 Only 144 salmon samples were taken and only 73 of these were analyzed for the information given to the FDA.  The number of samples per group was also limited. Since the process is not perfect 5% of the fish might not be sterile.

 Fish were included irrespective of sex or maturity and were not distributed uniformly within or between the different groups.

 Because of limitations in the quantity of original salmon specific IgE  pool, the company used commercially available sera to complete the inhibition assays. Two sets of extracts were used. The initial set was used to establish assay conditions, but all six of the assays were performed using the second set of extracts, and the second zero pool.

 The fish contain an rDNA  expression of the Chinook salmon growth hormone under the control of an ocean pout  promoter. The allergenic potency of the fish could not be compared nor was the FDA  able to determine how the company calculated its values for individual and pulled extracts from allergenic potency.

The FDA also  noted an increase in the relative allergenic potency in the diploid salmon compared to the control salmon. Since salmon is eaten as one individual fillet per serving, rather than a mixture of many fish, there may be an increase in the allergenic potency of these genetically engineered salmon.

 Because of the technical flaws in the study, its interpretation is limited and the FDA cannot rely on its results. There appears to be a lack of appropriate controls, experimental conditions that preclude detection, and no reliable conclusions can be drawn from this study.

 Because of the low quality of the studies evaluating the allergenicity of the salmon tissue, there are uncertainties in the production and use of the eyed eggs  produced in Prince Edward Island Canada, the shipping of these eggs to Panama at its  grow out facility in the highlands of Panama, the processing of the fish in Panama, and the shipping of table ready process i to us in the United States.   Since the location of egg productions and grow out start outside the United States. in Canada and Panama, the global commons potential effects are outside the jurisdiction of the FDA.

GROWTH HORMONE

 Normally salmon produce growth hormone only in warm weather. This salmon contains a growth hormone gene from that Chinook salmon. the growth hormone is kept active all year round by  a genetic on switch from a different fish, the ocean pout.  Since the hormone is produced all year round, it can grow faster than farm grown salmon.

The growth hormone gene was isolated from the Chinook salmon which are fin fish that are listed in the eight major allergenic foods in the United States.  Salmon growth hormones contained multiple  proteins.  

Hormones associated with estradiol, testosterone, 17keto testosterone,, T3 and T4  are identified as hazards for the consumption of ABT  salmon.  Plasma T3 (thyroid) levels were statistically different, but not when the company pooled the total together. Eicosadienoic, linolenic, and oleic fatty acids also were statistically different.  Vitamin B6 was also elevated.  Since the salmon are given high energy fat diets their high crude fat content exhibited elevated total lipid levels.

INSULIN LIKE GROWTH FACTOR

The engineered salmon has higher levels of insulin like growth factor I, a hormone related to growth hormone). . High levels of this hormone are associated with greater cancer risk.

LOCATION

 The Panama growth facility is by a river which has three levels of containment between their tanks and the river. There are four downstream settling ponds  that act as only one level of containment. Despite the adequate water temperature, the river habitat in the vicinity of the facility are not favorable for  Atlantic salmon or other fish species. 

There are also concerns that the physical facilities would have difficulty preventing accidental release of the genetically engineered fish and shell fish  during floods, storms, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. The production site is potentially subject to hurricanes and strong winter winds and could fall within the hundred year flood level.

Since the facility is located 25 feet above sea level at its highest point and 120 feet from the tidal river. It is potentially subject to flooding from the nearby river. The area receives 200 inches per year of annual rain, most of it coming in the wet summer months. A recent flooding of the river caused extensive damage downstream, which  prevented access of authorized people.  Such a repeat would  potentially allowing predators to carry the salmon off-site.

Not addressed in this  company renderings to the FDA. are needs for alarms, standby power, and an operational plan including training, traffic control, record keeping, and an emergency response plan.

The plan does not also discuss unintentional potential release of fertilized eggs during transport from Canada  To Panama. The eggs  will be  transported by air freight and then ground shipment to the growth facility. 

The Panama facility  has an elevation of 5000 feet with water supplied by a nearby spring. The water temperature is approximate 15°C similar to the river running next to the facility. The river will also  receive water discharges from the facility. A significant amount of this water volume will be diverted for use in a local hydroelectric power plant.

The report does not show whether the salmon are indeed sterile. There are reports in the literature of coho salmon and other  fish species that are triploid  and sometimes fertile.  Research on Atlantic char  shows some triploid  females can develop ovaries and mature gametes.

 Another potential alarming issue If their confinement would be compromised, is  that a small percentage of triploids  can have gonadal tissue become mosaic,  bearing both diploid and triploid cells.  if A mono sex, all female salmon, is an effective form of reproductive containment to complement that of triploidy,  the company has, according to the FDA, has The report does not show the effectiveness of their methods used to ensure that an all-female population salmon will be produced. They state all the salmon will all be female, and 95% will be triploid. 

 The production fillets  will be processed near the grow out facility  In Panama,  placed on ice, and transported to the processing plant.  How the fish wastes  of heads, bones, and entrails  will be processed, is not described in the report but will be in accordance with applicable laws says the FDA.  Note: The FDA has no regulatory jurisdiction over disposal of wastes and other countries.

CONCLUSION

It looks like a done deal folks. With all these questions raised, it is hard to believe the FDA could come to a favorable conclusion on this venture.

What do you think?

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As a medical physician for over 51 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects, and help your read betwwen the lines. You must come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary. This results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies. Visit drneedles is blogging" at the end of each blog for a complete alphabetical list of all my blogs Visit http://www.americanacupuncture.com/ for more detailed information on mind, body, and spirit healing.