Grocery Chains and the Consumption of Genetically Modified Organisms

                The Time magazine article “Grocery Chains Won’t sell Genetically Modified Fish,” by Alexandra Sifferlin, describes the attempts of many popular grocery chains to boycott of selling genetically modified organisms.  Sifferlin describes how approximately 2000 stores have united under the Campaign for Genetically Engineered-Free Seafood to keep fish that have been genetically modified out of the grocery store.  Popular grocery stores such as Aldi and Trader Joe’s are a part of this campaign.  This effort stems from the argument that the organisms with altered genomes are not safe to consume by humans or safe in ecosystems globally.  This boycott and the ideas the campaign represents has especially hurt the company Aquabounty, the creator of genetically modified salmon.

                Emily Anthes, in her book Frankenstein’s Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech’s Brave New Beasts discusses the issues that have undermined the sale of AquaBounty salmon.  Anthes has pointed out that the criticism that faces the Aquabounty salmon are from the unknown effects of the genetic modifications on human health the ecological impact an Aquabounty salmon would have on the environment if it was accidentally released. 

Anthes points out that ecologists are concerned that genetically modified organisms can be an invasive species due to their altered genes.  Aquabounty has made it clear that there are several security measures in place to prevent the Aquabounty salmon from becoming an invasive species. This includes placing the production facility outside of its habitable environment.  If released, the salmon would not be able to survive due to salinity and temperature levels.  Second, the salmon that are being genetically modified for human consumption are sterile females, giving absolutely no chance for its genes to become rampant in an ecosystem.

                In addition, the Aquabounty has gone to lengths to assure that genetically modified fish are not a threat to human health.  However,  Sifferlin states that the FDA research showed that although there was no risk to people with fish allergies it had the potential to induce allergies. 

                Even with the support of science and its dedication to keep the genetically modified salmon isolated from the ecosystem, it still faces problems from the public’s perspective on genetically modified organisms.  According to recent polls, most Americans believe that the FDA should prohibit the sale of genetically modified salmon (Sifferlin, 2013).  To make matters worse for Aquabounty, another survey showed that the more than half of Americans believe that science is cannot be the only way to assess genetic modification, but must also include moral and ethical factors (Anthes, 2013).  If the perception of genetically modified organism by the public and major grocery chains is that they are detrimental to health and ecology, then companies such as Aquabounty will continue to have a difficult time in the American market.

 

Sources:

Anthes, Emily. Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling Up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts. New York: Scientific American, 2013. 13-32. Print.

Sifferlin, Alexandra. "Grocery Chains Won’t Sell Genetically Modified Fish." Time 21 Mar. 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2013. <http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/21/grocery-chains-wont-sell-genetically-modified-fish/>.