Something Fishy is Going On

     Good evening, Family...  Although, I do not eat a lot of red meat, I do love myself some chicken and turkey.  Lately, I have been trying to wrap my head around eating less meat and making more fish and seafood a part of my diet.  After all, the new year is coming soon and I, just like every other person in the free world, will be looking for some new exercise regimens and new diet regimes as soon as the ball drops on January 1st and reducing my meat intake is one thing I am looking at.

     Just as I was looking through different cookbooks for seafood recipes, I hear that the FDA will be allowing the production of genetically modified SALMON.  This will be the first time that the FDA has allowed an animal to be genetically modified for human consumption.  To put it in plain English, the government is allowing someone to mess with mother nature and God's creatures to produce a food product that will be fit for us to eat.  Sounds like something fishy is going on to me.

     Right now, SALMON is available two ways.  The 'Farm-raised' product is produced in tanks and is an Atlantic coast product.  This product is available year round.   Then there is the Pacific 'Wild' product available fresh from about May to October, but also available frozen year round.   You may also see salmon advertised as "organic", but according to my research, there is no such thing.   Now, let's talk about this genetically modified product.  This genetically modified SALMON is currently being produced by a company out of Canada called AquaBounty.  This "frankenfish" as it is called by some in the industry is produced by injecting the genetic material of an eel-like fish called an Ocean Pout into the eggs of a Pacific Chinook salmon.  Sorry, but when I heard "eel-like",  I lost my appetite.  The producers of the product say that they can raise the salmon twice as fast as what is currently available either wild or farm-raised.  Why do we always have to move so fast?  What we are currently doing is not fast enough?  Just my thoughts...

     Although the FDA has approved the production and sale of this genetically modified product, they do NOT require that any specific labeling be mandatory.  In other words, the FDA has decided that there isn't much difference between a genetically modified salmon and a farm-raised or wild salmon product.  It doesn't matter what products are used in the processing of this modified SALMON, they do not have to be listed on consumer labels.  The product was presented to the FDA for approval 20 years ago.  The FDA approved the product in 2010 and has spent time since then researching the disputes and concerns brought by consumer and environmental groups against this product.  Although, it seems  the FDA has deemed this product safe for human consumption, their sample testing was very limited and there has been little to no research around the problems that could arise if the genetically modified SALMON gets into the environment and starts reproducing with the SALMON that are living in their natural habitat.  So we do not know the long term affects of consuming this product and we do not know environmental factors around this product.   Once again, smells fishy to me.

     This "new and improved" product is due to come to market within the next 2 years.  There are many companies that have said they WILL NOT sell this genetically modified product, including Safeway, Target, Whole Foods, and COSTCO.   I like the wild salmon and I have no problem eating the farm raised but TRUST, I am not planning to eat any genetically modified SALMON product in the future.  What about you???

SMOOCHES