It‘s ALIVE!

In eating animals news the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly considering approval for a genetically modified salmon for human consumption. The salmon, developed by the Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies (fish is technology?), was created by introducing a DNA sequence from an eel species into the Pacific Chinook causing it to grow at twice the rate a Chinook should grow. Proponents of the new salmon cite growing food needs as a reason for developing such an animal.

Though approval seems likely, the “Frankenfish” is not without its vocal detractors. The Nature Conservancy and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have already made appearances on news shows expressing their concerns about the safety of such fish for human consumption and its potential impact on the environment should any of these modified salmon actually make it into the wild. According to AquaBound the possibility of the new salmon interfering with the natural food chain is minimal to zero. They have taken the precaution of ensuring that the farms will be far from waterways common to salmon and that such salmon will be sterile. However, as the Nature Conservancy has pointed out, no one can guarantee that every salmon raised on these farms will be sterile forever and all time.

In my humble opinion, however, the chances of these freaks of nature getting into the wild salmon population are not the greatest concern, but rather the impact they salmon will have on the health of the people consuming them. Though the FDA seems confident there will not be any far-reaching health concerns I think the American consumer would do well to be wary. We all know how thoroughly the FDA researches, probes, and investigates (cough*Vytorin*cough).

Vegetarian diet aside, I think everyone should think twice before contemplating eating such a creature. After reading articles and watching news stories on this subject I couldn’t help thinking about a scene from Jurassic Park in which the characters played by Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Sir Richard Attenborough and Martin Ferraro are eating lunch after touring the park. The previously skeptical lawyer Donald Gennaro (played by Ferraro) has been so dazzled by what he saw that he has visions of huge profits in his head, while the scientists are more subdued and pensive. Finally Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) has had enough from the lawyer and voices his opinion rather forcefully, lamenting that the scientists were so occupied with “whether they could [clone dinosaurs] they didn’t stop to think if they should.” I’ll paraphrase another favorite Malcolm quote to close: the lack of humility towards God’s creation that’s being displayed here staggers me.

Question: Once approved, will you eat genetically modified salmon?