Genetically Modified Salmon Controversies in the United States: Does the Current Regulatory Paradigm Address all the Issues?

If approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the genetically modified salmon will be the first genetically engineered animal available for human consumption in the United States. The country relies on the Food and Drug Administration and other federal and state agencies to develop policies that consider unbiased evidence and expert policy development in the evaluation of food products. I propose that the current information available regarding the acceptance of genetically modified salmon as a human food is not yet adequate for approval, as evidenced by the number of related public health issues that still remain unresolved. A thorough review of the literature with a focus on the United States was conducted and various perspectives were analyzed. Sources included books, websites, journal publications, news sources, government documents and publications, legal perspectives and information from biotechnology (biotech) companies. Findings revealed that genetically modified food remains a controversial topic for public health, and includes environmental, health, and ethical issues. There is still much debate about the regulation and safety of these foods in general, and escalating concern with the possibility of the genetically engineered salmon being approved for entry into the food chain without data on the long term impacts on human health and the animal population. Improved processes regarding the regulatory and safety review of genetically modified foods are necessary to safeguard the public and environment. The FDA is mandated to protect public safety, and FDA policies must put the safety of the public before the wishes of biotech companies, until the assurance of long term safety can be GM Salmon Controversies in the US 3 improved. Therefore, improved regulation, including labeling of foods with genetically modified content, can protect consumers while allowing them to make informed personal choices.Master of Public Healt