Salmon became the first transgenic animal legal in the United States – Clarín.com

In Argentina, the pink salmon is going its worst. He was considered a delicious and unique fish with large health benefits. Until suddenly fell off the worst accusations, of the hand of a renowned chef, that’s stained with dyes, who raise crammed with excessive antibiotics, which are given to pesticides and hormones, and eating it can do harm. Although it is disputed whether the criticisms are unfounded , the controversy had a strong impact on households, where shopping this food fell as much as 40%.

The controversy erupted two months ago when the French Christophe Krywonis, MasterChef jury, referred to the salmon that is achieved in Argentina, imported from Chile, as a “bad protein” and as a “poison”, “five times more toxic a hamburger “. “It’s the only thing I did not like or offer in my restaurant,” he said. Given this, the Chilean producers insisted that meet all health standards and the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture ensured that demands and controls. Also nutrition experts like Dr. Alberto Cormillot stated that “there is no evidence that it causes a negative effect on health” and that “in Argentina kills people eating meat.”

Now, a pitch generated controversy in the United States. As published by La Vanguardia, salmon AquaBounty Technologies Company became the first transgenic animal that country legalized for human consumption. Dubbed by critics as “Frankenfish” for the monster Frankenstein and “fish” (fish in English), yesterday received the green light from the Food and (FDA), in a statement, called it “nutritious” and “safe for human consumption”

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The new product, called “AquAdvantage Salmon” has been genetically modified to grow twice as fast as conventional fish and reach, with lower costs, the minimum size required to be sold on the market. Specifically, does the adult size within 16-18 months compared to 30 months it takes through natural breeding, thanks to a growth hormone imported a species of Pacific salmon called “chinook” and the gene one eel fish.

To approve the use of the product, the FDA is responsible for regulating US food, AquaBounty requires that the fish grow in two terrestrial facilities, located in Panama and Canada, rather than offshore cages to prevent escape to open seas. “The FDA considered the request for approval in various stages of review (…). AquaBounty Technologies held their first talks with the FDA in the mid-90s,” he told EFE a spokeswoman for the agency, which highlighted the “painstaking” process that has been followed to authorize that product.

In your document to authorize the use of this animal, the FDA says there are no significant biological differences between salmon AquaBounty and conventional and, therefore, the product does not You should carry special labeling of “GM” as its detractors claimed. In the center of the controversy the Alaska seafood industry and consumer groups and environmental advocates, who believe that the FDA decision opens the door to the sale of other genetically modified, such as pigs, cows animals or stands chickens.

“There is no place on our plates for genetically modified fish,” said Pete Knutson, owner of the company Loki Fish Company, which considers that the sale of transgenic fish will danger to Alaskan fishermen and the region of Puget Sound (Washington State), also dedicated to salmon. “We will continue working to ensure that the entire market, from grocery stores to restaurants, continue to listen to the majority of consumers who do not want to eat the genetically modified fish and unlabeled” he warned in a press release.

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Organizations critical of the process, such as environmental Friends of Earth, claim to have won in recent years the commitment not to sell the new salmon 60 supermarket chains with 9,000 stores across the United States, among which are the popular supermarket Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Target. The date on which the salmon can pass water to the dish is surrounded by uncertainty because of opposition from supermarkets, but in 2010 the company said that if the product was approved, could be on sale in two years. The company argues that genetically modified salmon reduces production costs and environmental impacts associated with the breeding of this popular fish and also has the same taste, color, texture and smell that traditionally bred.

The legalization of transgenic salmon is a precedent for other governments that could mimic the decision by the United States, where 37% of adults think that GM foods are safe from a majority of 57% who disapprove, according to a January 2015 survey of the Pew Research Center.

In Argentina, on October 6 the first transgenic for human consumption was adopted. To a resistant potato virus JVP, which was developed between the CONICET and Tecnoplant. Our country had other 32 transgenic authorized, but only in soybean, corn and cotton. None of these crops was for direct human consumption and therefore there has been great resistance among the population to the advancement of these technologies. The transgenic potato everything seems more difficult. So Tecnoplant sources clarified Clarin precipitate and not just start selling seeds within at least two years.