Otolith’s fish is always wild and always the result of a sustainable harvest.[1] My interest in my health and safety, as well as my family’s, is paramount to me and because of that and my preference for quality, I choose wild fish first. Otolith’s wild Alaskan fish and shellfish has not been Genetically Engineered [GE] and is as it has always been – wild and naturally healthful for you to eat. A few things to note as you continue to learn more about GE food and its potential impact on the environment and other organisms - such as you -Healthy and healthful do not mean the same thing. Healthy fish whether wild, GE or farmed may all honestly be described as healthy. That is if they are not diseased, dying from natural causes or otherwise not behaving as one would typically describe as a healthy fish. However, healthy does not mean that it would be good for your body if you were to eat these "healthy" fish. Healthy is only an adjective describing the condition of the fish and not its relevance to you or anything else. On the other hand, Otolith’s fish is healthful. This means that when you consume Otolith’s seafood, you are getting essential nutrients not contaminated by antibiotics and you are eating fish that have instinctively pursued a diverse diet of nutritious plankton, shellfish and other fish. Otolith’s salmon are naturally pink to orange in meat color and naturally high in Omega 3’s. Otolith’s fish bear little taste resemblance to GE and/or farmed fish that are fed colorant to produce their meat’s color and fed cost-effective protein rich vegetables (often GMO vegetables) to fuel their growth and development. Salmon naturally convert plankton and many marine plants into Omega 3’s, but in farmed salmon, corn and soy are converted into Omega 6’s, an abundant fat which many American’s already receive the FDA’s daily recommendation. Organizations against GE and GMO often recommend to wary and confused consumers – “[when in doubt] look for [and buy] organic products”[2]. In the case of fish, this advice may steer you wrong. All organic fish is always farmed. Many farmed fish is neither healthful nor environmentally sustainable, especially and including organic farmed salmon. Plenty of inorganic farmed fish are raised on GM feed such as grains, corn and soy. To avoid fish fed GMOs, look for organic fish. However, to avoid fish that may be unhealthful for you, eat wild caught.
Additionally, GE and Genetically Modified Organisms [GMO] do not refer to the same type of genetic variations.[3] GMO describes the genetic variations that occur which could have either happened naturally or assisted by the hand of science and technology to ensure their occurrence. Nonetheless, they could have existed as a natural DNA variation on their own under some circumstances. All GE food is the result of GMO’s, while not all GMO’s are the result of GE. For example – two similar plants of a different species but same family, one from North America and one from South America both make their way to be planted in the same garden. One year, a new plant begins to grow which is a GMO or hybrid of the other two, having characteristics of both but its own distinctly unique new plant variety. It was not nature that brought the parent plants together, but together they were able to naturally produce a plant that shared traits with both parents. The aforementioned happens all the time in agriculture and farmers have been breeding various plants for favorable characteristics for centuries. There exists a field within science and technology that allows for plausible, safe GMO development. Admittedly, more research on GMO impacts would be desirable and many oppose GMO crops for numerous, valid reasons.
GE only refers to a far less plausible variation of a species – one whose characteristics could never, under any circumstances, have ever occurred naturally and are only the result of commercially driven, genetic manipulation. GE Salmon, commonly called “Frankenfish”, are the genetic result of splicing the DNA of sea eels[4] with farmed Atlantic Chinook Salmon, the resulting fish achieving a similar rate of growth and maturity to its new relative, the eel, and allowing them to reach a marketable size in approximately 16-18 months compared with the typical farmed salmon grow-out period of three years.[5] This occurrence must be done on a genetic level. There is no occasion in which an eel and any salmon could have successfully produced any offspring together. GE means altering the DNA of one species by adding or replacing the DNA of any unrelated species to form an unnatural and possibly unpredictable outcome. One could argue the potential for GE fish to be benign. Understanding that it took millions of dollars and many years research to create any GE fish, it is less than unlikely that any responsible company would be motivated to pay for research to prove GE’s possible detriment or consequential negative environmental impact. The FDA does currently research on behalf of the safety and environmental impact of GE fish, and all GE fish would be farmed. In 2010, the FDA said that it was safe to eat GE fish. Accusations that the FDA refuses to conduct further studies on the affects of GE salmon consumption on human health continue. Presently, the FDA’s labeling requirements for food do not include identification of GE and GMO ingredients. Aqua Bounty, Inc. may be on the verge of receiving the FDA’s approval to make GE salmon available for human consumption.
Otolith’s owners share a perspective with many others who understand that free markets are essential and farmed fish is a fixture in our food supply.Nonetheless, current FDA label standards are insufficient for many informed consumers to make educated decisions when selecting fish for consumption.[6] Furthermore, as the farm fish industry and possible GE farm fish industry continues to grow, knowledgeable fish consumers must continue to work together in the interest of protecting the abundant and healthful renewable seafood resources capable of providing long-term and sustainable nutrition and flavor.
Let‘s work on strengthening the network in favor of sustainability together! In Philadelphia, the following link may help you share your opinion with your council representatives - http://
If you’d like to share your opinions with Congressional Representatives the following link may be useful to you as well - http://www.congressmerge.com/
References:
1. Otolith LLC defines sustainable harvest:
http://www.otolithonline.com/
2. Non GMO Shopping Guide - Meat, Fish and Eggs:
http://nongmoshoppingguide.
3. USDA accepted Definitions of GMO and GE:
http://usda.gov/wps/portal/
4. Definition - Ocean Pout [sea eels] used for Aqua Bounty‘s GE Salmon:
http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/sos/
5. Business Week - “Salmon that Grow Up Fast”:
http://www.gene.ch/genet/2006/
Bounty Farms to begin to Sell GM Salmon Eggs”:
http://www.mindfully.org/GE/
6. All FDA Food Labeling Requirements are listed in the FDA’s Guidance for
Industry - A Food Labeling Guide:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/
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