Dive Brief:
- FDA is the target of a lawsuit that environmental groups have filed to challenge the agency's right to approve genetically-modified animals for consumption.
- The lawsuit aims to overturn the FDA's approval of GMO salmon and block the agency's authority over approving other genetically-modified animals in the future.
- Center for Food Safety, Friends of the Earth, the Center for Biological Diversity, and other groups claimed that the GMO salmon approval was outside of the scope of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which regulates genetic modification under provisions involving animal drugs. FDA does have jurisdiction over genetically-modified animals used for other purposes.
Dive Insight:
The groups allege that AquaBounty, creator of the approved GMO salmon, has downplayed the risks involved in GMO salmon escaping and threatening wild salmon populations.
If that were to happen, seafood processors could see their sources of wild salmon tainted by GMO salmon. Even if they intended to sell wild caught products, seafood processors could sell GMO salmon unknowingly if the proper testing wasn't done. That could lead to costly lawsuits and relabeling efforts.