FRANKENFISH: Farm Salmon Alteration

On Sept. 20 and 21, 2010 the FDA heard comments by a company who is trying to get FDA approval of a genetically modified Salmon.  What?  I heard this and was flabbergasted to find out that not only are companies trying to put bug genes in plants that provide food for us to make them insect resistant but now they are messing with animal food.

This is a synopsis of what is taking place:  This biotech company has taken a 'on' growth gene from a fish that promotes growth year round.  Salmon normally grow in Spring and Summer when their food is abundant and then eat very little in Fall and Winter when food is scarce.  This is due to the growth gene being turned on and off.  This of course decreases the time in which it grows to full size in order to be able to capture and sell for human consumption.  With this new gene the salmon are constantly hungry due to the gene telling its body to continuously produce a growth hormone.  This allows fish farmers to have market ready fish in 12 to 18 months as opposed to the normal growth time of 3 years.  Less time to market means higher profit, almost double profit.

Of course the company has done all of the science behind this new Frankenfish and reports to the FDA there is nothing different from wild natural salmon.  Amazing!  If you are concerned about the fish getting out of their farm and mating with other wild salmon rest assured that isn't going to happen because they've also made them sterile.  The gonads produce a lot of hormones that are integral in providing other organs and functions in the body with what is needed in order to be healthy.  Make an animal sterile they are going to be more apt to have health problems and be more susceptible to diseases. 

Another issue is that fin fish is number 8 in allergenic foods.  The company doesn't know whether this fish is going to be more allergenic to individuals who aren't normally allergic to natural fin fish.  The science behind finding out whether the fish has an increase amount of growth hormone flowing through its body is very bad.  In other words the science they used was not sensitive at all.  Also there seems to be an insulin factor that these fish are susceptible to creating more of.  This insulin factor can create insulin resistance in humans which is bad for diabetics who want to get their omega oils from salmon.  Not to mention those who don't have diabetes this would certainly increase their chances of getting it.

Another interesting tidbit.  The FDA has decided that unless the fish tastes different or unless it has decrease nutrients than the wild salmon the company doesn't have to provide special labeling letting a person know that it is a GMO.  So you won't know several things if the FDA approves this Frankenfish.

You won't know that if you eat it will you increase your intake of growth hormone which we know from feeding it to cattle it does affect the person who ingests it that's why women are now starting Monarch at a very early age.  You won't know whether the insulin factor that it may be producing at high levels will create insulin resistance in your body.  The FDA's take on this seems to be the less you know about your food the better.

My recommendation is make sure that the salmon that you purchase is wild caught.  There are some farms who raise non GMO fish but you won't know when they are going to switch over to the GMO Frankenfish and they don't have to tell you when they do according to the FDA.  Just as we were not told about most of the corn being produced in the US is Frankencorn and is in most every box, bag or can.  Corn syrup used in virtually everything is Frankencorn.  Eat organic if at all possible when it comes to box, canned or bagged food.  Even then there is so much sugar and toxins in the container in order to increase shelf life that I would recommend preparing fresh in your kitchen and stay away from the box, canned or bagged.

Dr. Betts