The following is an edited excerpt.
Whether genetically modified (GM) seafood ever makes its way into your favorite U.S. fish market, grocery store or restaurant may still be up in the air, but one thing should be certain: Whether you like the idea of GM seafood or not, it will make sense, if and when the time comes, to have it labeled.
We’ve heard all the pros and cons of the GM salmon issue: It’s a potential public health menace; it’s an environmental disaster in the making; it’s the product of years of careful testing and research, not some fly-by-night trend; it’s the future of farmed seafood, following the heels of GM land-based crops. All interesting arguments with decent data to back them up, and in truth, it’s still anybody’s guess as to when — or even if — GM salmon will ever get the green light.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has indicated it’s leaning in that direction, but I’ll believe it when I see it. There are plenty of legislators, including a strong anti-GM contingent from Alaska, demanding that so-called “Frankenfish” remain off the dinner table, and it’s a contentious issue that gets lots of media coverage. Read the full story here: GM seafood: Love or hate it, you gotta label it