FDA rules won't require labeling of genetically modified salmon

[cory777]

Source: Washington Post

As the Food and Drug Administration considers whether to approve genetically modified salmon, one thing seems certain: Shoppers staring at fillets in the seafood department will find it tough to pick out the conventional fish from the one created with genes from another species.

Despite a growing public demand for more information about how food is produced, that won't happen with the salmon because of idiosyncracies embedded in federal regulations.

The FDA says it cannot require a label on the genetically modified food once it determines that the altered fish is not "materially" different from other salmon - something agency scientists have said is true.

Perhaps more surprising, conventional food makers say the FDA has made it difficult for them to boast that their products do not contain genetically modified ingredients.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/18/AR2010091803520.html?nav=emailpage

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UNCENSORED NEWS!!! http://activistnews.blogspot.com

[Jim Sagle]

1. Change you can't trust, knowing it might kill you.

[DesertFlower]

2. well i won't be eating any fish.

i don't trust anything coming out of the gulf. i occasionally eat salmon, but that's going to end.

[DFLforever]

3. Shop at your co-op or other natural foods stores.

Where they do properly identify and label salmon.

And if you can't find any, don't buy salmon or any other food you don't trust.

[on point]

4. Time to boycott anything not labled as GM free

I see the salmon market crashing in the future as consumers drop the product.

[Dover]

9. I think the GM food industry is ultimately shooting themselves in the foot.

All the talk about transparency is just that......talk, lip service.

The industry assumes they can integrate their GM foods into the food system
so as to be undetectable and untracable by consumers at which time it will become a moot point. But I see a different scenario - mistrust will only grow and people will continue to move away from processed foods and develop more reliable, healthy sources. Attempts to force feed people ideas, values or food that they don't want is never going to lead to anything positive.

The industry mindset -

The biotechnology industry is opposed to mandatory labeling, saying it will only bewilder a public that is not well informed about genetic engineering.

"Extra labeling only confuses the consumer," said David Edwards, director of animal biotechnology at the Biotechnology Industry Organization. "It differentiates products that are not different. As we stick more labels on products that don't really tell us anything more, it makes it harder for consumers to make their choices."

Clearly their attitude is that people are not willing or able to be educated to their satisfaction on this issue and all attempts at persuasion are rejected out of hand. I suggest they spend their money educating the public rather than lobbying government and then leave the decision to the people. Free choice for a free nation.

[Francesca9]

12. GMOs were already integrated into our food system

It is illegal to claim GMO free, even if true.

[boppers]

15. Yes and no.

If you're in the US and eating corn or soy, it's likely GM, if you're drinking sweet liquids (soda, iced tea, etc), it's likely been flavored with GM derived HFCS, even animal feed which uses corn and soy changes the food chain...

That being said, if you're eating foods that are raised completely isolated from GM crops, and don't use GM feed, there's a good chance it's GMO free.

[Dover]

16. But doesn't the 'organic' label mean it is GMO free?

What does “organic” mean?

The term “organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Specific requirements must be met and maintained in order for products to be labeled as "organic".

Organic crops must be grown in safe soil, have no modifications and must remain separate from conventional products. Farmers are not allowed to use synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes (GMOs), petroleum-based fertilizers and sewage sludge-based fertilizers.

What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants or animals, whose DNA has been altered. These products have undergone only short term testing to determine their effects on humans and the environment.

In most countries, organic products do not contain GMOs.

http://www.helpguide.org/life/organic_foods_pesticides_gmo.htm

[indimuse]

5. wtf?

knr!

[Dover]

6. Who does the FDA serve? This decision will make it crystal clear.

It's another litmus test for the role of government regulators.

It was also clear when they quickly gave the go-ahead to declare Gulf seafood safe to eat even though the fishermen/women saw enough troubling things to make them wary and reject this government assessment.

The take-away message is that the government/corporations cannot be relied on to protect the public health or the planet. Period. They would rather pour money into wars over scarce resources than protect and regulate the natural resources we all share...a few who put profit ahead of sustainable, healthy and honorable practices. So it is up to each of us.

And it will hurt all aspects of the fish market as consumers turn their backs on salmon and other unlabelled, unsourced fish products. I no longer
eat sea foods due to these unresolved issues concerning the health of fish, fish farms, the ocean itself and unsustainable practices. And I'm guessing I'm not the only one.
Hopefully the larger fish industry will see this trend and they will join the fight.

Perhaps, it is ultimately a good thing for this industry to go bust, if
global warming doesn't force our hand first. I think it is far more impactful for people to simply quit buying/eating salmon and other seafood than to stage protests in attempts to get the government to listen. Actions speak MUCH louder than words. So simply follow your conscience with everything you do and trust others will do the same. It doesn't require EVERYone to participate, so don't get stuck in that defeatist mentality. Whole markets are affected by much smaller percentages of shifts in consumer activity than you'd think. So if even 10% changed their habits, this would cause a BIG impact.

[shirlden]

7. Not to worry about labeling

It will not take long for GM salmon to escape and breed with others in the wild. Within a few years all salmon will be GM, so why be concerned with labeling?
We are so screwnd......

[boppers]

14. If it's the same group as the one I'm thinking of, they have to learn to walk.

The protocols were for tank growing, away from natural water sources/bodies.

[KoKo]

8. Dennis Kucinich has a bill to require labelling for GMO's in food.

From the article:

"This to me raises questions about whose interest the FDA is protecting," said Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has introduced legislation that would require labeling for genetically engineered food. "They are clearly protecting industry and not the public."

[pam4water]

10. Go Kucinich!

[eppur_se_muova]

11. No problem, I won't be buying ANY salmon. nt

[pinniped]

13. Don't buy any of that farmed salmon crap.

....

[Vehl]

17. This is bad news

Maybe there should be a nonprofit watchdog that supervises Salmon farms. And people ought to not buy any salmon which does not have the watchdog's approval.

[bettyellen]

18. want to avoid GM produce? look at the PLU code and you'll know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_Look-Up_code

hopefully they'll do the same for this fish

[Bigmack]

19. I live in the PNW and fish for salmon a lot...

So I have a lot of my own fish.

But...

We live near a reservation, and I buy salmon from the tribe. Last year coho was going for $2 a pound live weight... and fresh!

There are a lot of tribes on smallish reservations that do this.

Ask around if there are tribes nearby.

I wouldn't eat that farmed shit - Frankenfish or not.

I know this doesn't help the folks in Iowa.