HALIFAX – The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has approved the production and sale of the first genetically modified salmon for human consumption.
AquaBounty said in a statement today that it has won approval for its AquAdvantage salmon, an Atlantic salmon that has been genetically engineered at a plant in P.E.I. to mature more quickly than conventional farmed fish.
READ MORE: Genetically modified ‘Arctic Apple’ approved by Health Canada
The decision comes years after the U.S.-based company applied for the permission to sell its fish to consumers, drawing criticism from some who say there is too much uncertainty about the health of the product.
AquaBounty has received approval from Environment Canada for the production of Atlantic salmon fish eggs at its hatchery in Prince Edward Island, which is the subject of a Federal Court case filed by three environmental groups.
Health Canada has also confirmed that the department is reviewing the safety of AquaBounty’s genetically modified salmon as a food source.
To date, it said no genetically modified animal has received approval for human consumption in Canada.
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