Issued: January 19, 2021
A quantity of unlabelled genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) salmon is due to enter the market in Jan/Feb 2021. The salmon could be sold in grocery stores, restaurants or catering.
Summary
Credit: https://aquabounty.com/our-farms
The genetically modified (GM or genetically modified) Atlantic salmon is the world’s first GM food animal. It is not labelled as genetically modified on grocery stores shelves or in restaurants.
A few small shipments of GM salmon have been sold in Canada 2017-2019, from a small plant in Panama which is now closed. The first two “harvests” of GM salmon from North America are now due from the new on-land fish factories in Prince Edward Island and Indiana.
The company AquaBounty has genetically engineered Atlantic salmon to grow faster. The salmon has a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon and genetic material from ocean pout (an eel-like creature). The company says its “AquAdvantage” salmon grow to market-size twice as fast as other farmed salmon.
If I want to avoid eating GM salmon, what salmon should I buy?
- Buy only wild salmon – do not buy farmed salmon.
- Do not buy salmon.
- Find out what your grocery store in Canada says about selling GM salmon in the new report GMOs in Your Grocery Store: Company Transparency Ranking.
- Ask your grocery store and at your restaurant.
