Frankenfish - Part II
Depois de terem surgido várias notícias de que o salmão poderia vir a ser o primeiro organismo geneticamente modificado na nossa alimentação...parece que por enquanto o assunto não vai para a frente. Pelo menos no que ser refere à autorização por parte das entidades dos EUA.
Aparte de ser um peixe de aquacultura, que como qualquer outro peixe tem custos ambientais associados à sua produção, este peixe é geneticamente modificado. Os seus genes foram alterados e até ao momento não existem estudos suficientes que permitam saber as consequências disto na saúde humana.
Para além disso, a produção de um animal como este pode ser um elevado risco para as populações selvagens de salmão e todo o ecossistema associado, sendo praticamente impossível garantir não haverão fugas para o meio envolvente.
Last September, details arose about a genetically engineered Atlantic salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies which had the potential to become the first GM animal product approved for human consumption in the U.S.
Dubbed the "Frankenfish" by some, the fish contains a growth gene from Chinook salmon as well as a gene "promoter" from another fish, the ocean pout, which allows the salmon to grow twice as fast as its farmed counterparts, reaching market size in 16 to 18 months, as opposed to 3 years.
More recently, on June 15, the House of Representatives agreed by voice vote to an amendment to the House Agriculture Appropriations bill that would bar the approval of genetically engineered salmon for human consumption.
The short amendment by Representatives Don Young (R-AK) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) would ban the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from spending any funds on the approval of the fish, called "Frankenfish" by GE fish opponents, beginning in the next fiscal year.
As Representative Young puts it "Frankenfish is uncertain and unnecessary. Should it receive approval as an animal drug, it clears the path to introduce it into the food supply; my amendment cuts them off before they can get that far."
in Fishwise Newsletter | Julho 2011
Aparte de ser um peixe de aquacultura, que como qualquer outro peixe tem custos ambientais associados à sua produção, este peixe é geneticamente modificado. Os seus genes foram alterados e até ao momento não existem estudos suficientes que permitam saber as consequências disto na saúde humana.
Para além disso, a produção de um animal como este pode ser um elevado risco para as populações selvagens de salmão e todo o ecossistema associado, sendo praticamente impossível garantir não haverão fugas para o meio envolvente.
Dubbed the "Frankenfish" by some, the fish contains a growth gene from Chinook salmon as well as a gene "promoter" from another fish, the ocean pout, which allows the salmon to grow twice as fast as its farmed counterparts, reaching market size in 16 to 18 months, as opposed to 3 years.
More recently, on June 15, the House of Representatives agreed by voice vote to an amendment to the House Agriculture Appropriations bill that would bar the approval of genetically engineered salmon for human consumption.
The short amendment by Representatives Don Young (R-AK) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) would ban the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from spending any funds on the approval of the fish, called "Frankenfish" by GE fish opponents, beginning in the next fiscal year.
As Representative Young puts it "Frankenfish is uncertain and unnecessary. Should it receive approval as an animal drug, it clears the path to introduce it into the food supply; my amendment cuts them off before they can get that far."
in Fishwise Newsletter | Julho 2011