Would You Eat Genetically Altered Meat?

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Would You Eat Genetically Altered Meat?

By: Allie Townsend (3 hours ago)

Topics: Food, FDA, salmon, fish, mutant food

-REUTERS/ Barria

The Food and Drug Administration is within steps of green lighting genetically

modified salmon as a safe food product, which would be the first genetically

altered animal approved for human consumption.

The AquAdvantage salmon, a cross on the traditional Atlantic salmon, was created

using a genetic cocktail of genomes taken from other fish – a gene from the

ocean pout that prevents freezing and a growth gene from the Chinook salmon for

faster growing speeds than regular Atlantic salmon. Engineered by

Massachusetts-based AquaBounty, the fish are claimed to be safe for people to

eat by the company – and now, by the FDA. " We've been studying this fish for

more than 10 years, " L. Stotish, the company's president and chief

executive, told The Washington Post. " In characteristics, physiology, behavior,

this is an Atlantic salmon. It looks like an Atlantic salmon. It tastes like an

Atlantic salmon. "

A team of FDA scientists will present the case for approval on Sept. 19, which

means mutant fish could be on our plates before we know it. No word on if food

suppliers, grocery stores or restaurants will be required to label genetically

altered animals before they're sold to customers.

Read more:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/09/08/would-you-eat-genetically-altered-meat/#ixzz\

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