U.S. Senate’s GMO Salmon Labeling Act To Support And Pass Into Law
If you are into eating salmon, this information may be of vital importance to you, especially if you don’t want to purchase, eat or feed GMO salmon to yourself and your family.
Plaudits to Senator Murkowski of Alaska for having the presence of mind and conviction to introduce Senate Bill S.1528, “Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act” on July 11, 2017.
Kudos also to three co-sponsors: Senator Dan Sullivan (D-AK), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
S.1528 was referred to the Committee on Health, Labor, and Pensions. The bill’s purpose is as follows and written of public record.
It is the purpose of this Act to—
(1) ensure that consumers in the United States can make informed decisions when purchasing salmon; and
(2) authorize an independent scientific and technical advisory organization to conduct a review of—
(A) the possible effects of genetically engineered salmon on wild salmon stocks; and
(B) the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of genetically engineered salmon for human consumption. [CJF emphasis and the most important aspects of the bill]
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In Section 3 Market Name for Genetically Engineered Salmon, we find this:
(a) In General.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of applying the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), the acceptable market name of any salmon that is genetically engineered shall include the words “Genetically Engineered” or “GE” prior to the existing acceptable market name.
(b) Definition.—For purposes of this section, salmon is genetically engineered if it has been modified by recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques, including the entire lineage of salmon that contain the rDNA modification. [CJF emphasis]
In late 2015, the FDA approved genetically modified salmon.
Look at the size of the GMO salmon in this video. GMO salmon grow larger and faster in about half the time frame it takes a normal salmon fingerling to reach maturity.
However, we don’t know the health ramifications from eating transgenic salmon, nor do we know the impact genetic engineering can or will have on wild salmon.
Recently, we learned of the depths of deceit which Monsanto went to, to discredit Professor Séralini’s 2-year, life-cycle study on the same rat species Monsanto studied only for 90 days to present and get FDA approvals!
Here’s a report of the skullduggery genetic engineering had to stoop to in order to ‘prove’ their consensus science: retraction of a legitimate study! Uncovered: Monsanto campaign to get Séralini study retracted.
What every person, who values knowing what their food contains, must do, in my opinion, is to contact your two U.S. Senators in Congress here and ask them to become a co-sponsor of S.1528, and to vote “yes” for its passage into law.
Also, contact your member of the U.S. House of Representatives here to ask him/her to introduce a companion bill and/or become a co-sponsor of a “Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act” in the House.
Personally, I have to question the nutritional value of GM/GE salmon, especially the fatty acids since GM/GE salmon has another fish’s rRNA introduced into it.
Because of a growth hormone in the GMO fish, this “Frankenfish” can grow to full market size in 18 to 20 months. Another “promotor” gene means that the fish can grow year-round, instead of seasonally.
For conventionally farmed and wild-caught salmon, it takes almost double the amount of time, or 28 to 36 months, to reach their full size. This ability to speed up salmon’s growth span will allow more of the fish to be commercially available, increasing consumption. [1]
Source: [2] Courtesy of AquaBounty Technologies, Inc.
AquAdvantage salmon is a genetically modified (GM) Atlantic salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies. A growth hormone-regulating gene from a Pacific Chinook salmon, with a promoter from an ocean pout, was added to the Atlantic salmon’s 40,000 genes. This gene enables it to grow year-round instead of only during spring and summer. The purpose of the modifications is to increase the speed at which the fish grows without affecting its ultimate size or other qualities. The fish grows to market size in 16 to 18 months rather than three years. [3]
References:
[1] https://healthline.com/gmo-salmon/
[2] http://www.healthline.com/sections/thesalt/2015/06/24/413755699/genetically-modified-salmon-coming-to-a-river-near-you
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AquAdvantage_salmon
Resources:
FDA Sued Over Genetically Engineered Salmon
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/fda-sued-over-genetically-engineered-salmon_us_56fd75f7e4b083f5c60730bc
Hybridization between genetically modified Atlantic salmon and wild brown trout reveals novel ecological interactions
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/280/1763/20131047
Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences, Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting.
Catherine’s latest book, published October 4, 2013, is Vaccination Voodoo, What YOU Don’t Know About Vaccines, available on Amazon.com.
Her 2012 book A Cancer Answer, Holistic BREAST Cancer Management, A Guide to Effective & Non-Toxic Treatments, is available on Amazon.com and as a Kindle eBook.
Two of Catherine’s more recent books on Amazon.com are Our Chemical Lives And The Hijacking Of Our DNA, A Probe Into What’s Probably Making Us Sick (2009) and Lord, How Can I Make It Through Grieving My Loss, An Inspirational Guide Through the Grieving Process (2008)
Image Credit: EcoWatch
