Labeling transgenic salmon would provide consumers with an informed choice. However, the real reason why the industry resists such a policy remains purely economic. With mandatory labeling, the price of salmon might go down.
We learned earlier this week that the farming of genetically modified salmon will no longer be done in Canada. AquaBounty salmon, whose facilities were located in Prince Edward Island, will now be produced in the United States. For Canadian consumers and salmon lovers, the news really doesn’t mean much.
Environmental groups like Vigilance OGM welcomed the company’s departure. But AquaBounty’s AquAdvantage salmon will still sell in Canada, without labeling to identify it. This group, whose funding is extremely nebulous and obscure, welcomes an announcement that ultimately means nothing, and the problem of lack of transparency still persists.
AquaBounty simply decided to go elsewhere to serve a more interesting market for it, that of the United States. As soon as genetically modified salmon was introduced in Canada, major food chains such as Loblaw/Provigo/Maxi, Sobeys/IGA and Metro decided to boycott the product in 2021.
It then becomes difficult for any product to break into the market when 85% of the retail sector shuns it. In the United States, the outcry was not so scathing.
The process of creating genetically modified (GM) salmon involves inserting a growth hormone gene from Chinook salmon into the genetic structure of an Atlantic salmon, that’s all. But is transgenic salmon really a risk?
From a scientific point of view, numerous studies have assessed the safety of GM salmon for human consumption. The majority of these studies reveal that fish pose no health hazard. For example, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a comprehensive analysis of the composition, nutritional value, and allergenicity of fish, ultimately determining that AquAdvantage salmon is as safe and nutritious to eat as non-GM salmon. These studies have been corroborated by Health Canada.
However, one should not neglect to consider the possible environmental repercussions of farming GM salmon. Although the fish has been genetically modified to grow faster, there are concerns that a specimen might escape from fish farms and interbreed with wild salmon populations, potentially disrupting local ecosystems. And there, the risks exist.
Despite the scientific consensus that suggests that GM salmon is safe for human consumption, it becomes crucial to continue conducting research to fully understand the potential effects of this technology on human health and the environment.
However, labeling remains the most important issue, but not necessarily for the same reasons you might think.
There are of course the risks perceived by the public. Making informed choices remains very important, of course. The popular belief is that such labels can drive some consumers away from the seafood counter. This argument is essentially secretive.
Genetically modified salmon costs at least 30% to 40% less to produce, a considerable difference.
Consumers should necessarily expect to pay less for a transgenic salmon if the labeling identified it as such.
The effort to offer a product that costs less would force a price review for all salmon, in order to maintain market share for other products. Profit margins would decrease as a result.
But without a label, the vagueness remains and the consumer pays more. A concept that pays off big for the industry, but which represents a very bad deal for the consumer.
Despite the boycotts of the big brands, you have most likely already eaten transgenic salmon without your knowledge. Ingredients in products processed with salmon are often not traceable.
Essentially, for years, the development of biotechnology in the food industry has benefited the industry in a unique way. Costs go down, the sector becomes more efficient, but retail prices go up. Meanwhile, environmental groups like Vigilance OGM collect donations and convey all kinds of messages to scare and the comedy continues.
Lack of transparency breeds fear, that’s all. So, for greater transparency, and especially for better prices, it is high time to properly label GM salmon in Canada.