Genetically Modified Salmon Approved For Consumption | News World India

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday has approved a genetically modified salmon for sale in the U.S. It’s the first genetically modified animal to be approved for human consumption.

The fish is called AquaAdvantage Salmon and was designed to grow faster using AquaBounty Technologies. As per the reports in The Wall Street Journal, the company created the first batch of genetically modified fish in 1989 and sent over safety data to the FDA in 1995.

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The main advantage of most genetically engineered food, which includes plant crops such as corn and soybeans are efficient. Also, AquaBounty claims the new salmon requires 20 to 25 per cent less feed than any other conventional salmon.

Some consumer and environmental groups have opposed the approval of the salmon, which have argued that the safety studies were inadequate and that wild salmon populations might be affected.

Executive director of Food & Water Watch, Wenonah Hauter in a statement said, “This unfortunate, historic decision disregards the vast majority of consumers, many independent scientists, numerous members of Congress and salmon growers around the world, who have voiced strong opposition.”