F.D.A. Commissioner, Margaret Hamburg
The Washington Post recently reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is using the process that is designed for veterinary drugs to approve genetically modified salmon. The F.D.A. does not have any legitimate process for regulating genetically modified foods, despite the fact that this request has been pending for 10 years. Approving genetically engineered salmon as a veterinary drug allows for research data to be conveniently hidden from the public, under the guise of trade secrets. It is yet another example of the F.D.A. using legal chicanery and flagrant deception to sideswipe both U.S. law, and its own mandates.
AquaAdvantage is the company that is manufacturing the new franken-fish, which may soon be approved by the F.D.A.. Their genetically engineered salmon grow double the rate of other conventionally grown, factory-farmed salmon, and they are double in size. This company clearly has no interest in public health, and they have already publicly admitted that they have not performed any safety testing on animals or humans. Instead, they did taste tests. We have been assured that genetically engineered salmon will taste wonderful like a sweet poison, but the health and environmental implications are being outright ignored.
It has long been believed that companies must spend millions to get their products through the approval process, due to the amount of testing required. For companies allowed to keep trade secrets about what they are putting into our bodies, what verifiable evidence is there of any safety testing, and do we just accept more of their broken promises with a wink and a nod? As genetically engineered salmon nears F.D.A. approval, we see this mythology exposed, and wonder where the regulatory money really goes, if not for safety testing. Most of us were once taught that no drugs or foods would be approved without rigorous safety testing, but this recent case highlights the falsity of that belief, and the F.D.A.'s true corporate-friendly agenda. The choice by the F.D.A. to review genetically engineered salmon as a veterinary drug happened because they know that they do not represent the wishes of the republic. In their most recent attempt at poisoning us, they once again represent cronyism at its deepest, darkest, and most corrupt level. They are, and ought to be considered, enemies of the United States. We await the day when thousands will join us to deal with them as all traitors of our country should be dealt with. That day is coming.
It is important to remember that it is the job of the government to represent the people, not to protect corporations from the people. The fact that scientific information provided to the government will be intentionally censored from the people in open violation of U.S. law is atrocious, and the magnitude of such evil grows whenever it directly relates to our well-being.
Eleven senators have now formally complained to F.D.A. Commissioner, Margaret A. Hamburg, about the organization's disingenuous use of a bogus approval process in order to ram-rod the approval of genetically engineered salmon. Listed below are the senators which have challenged the F.D.A.. If your senators are not listed, then we encourage you to contact them, and let them know how you feel about the F.D.A.'s behavior.
- Sen. Begich (Alaska)
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK)
- Sen. Patty Murray (WA)
- Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT)
- Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA)
- Sen. Ron Wyden (OR)
- Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT)
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
- Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD)
- Sen. Jeff Merkley (OR)
- Sen. Jon Tester (MT).
If approved, this ungodly salmon will be the first genetically engineered meat product sold in U.S. retailers, and it will likely be unlabeled, or deceptively labeled — with full FDA approval. Just like in the case of produce, the fish will lack meaningful labels that are easily understood. This will prevent the tracking of health problems. It is exactly how the system is designed to work, in fact. It has already been shown that genetically altered produce causes health effects of their own, but similar testing seems to have been carefully side-stepped for the sole benefit of AquaAdvantage.
"Such a limited review of the first GE animal for human consumption is wholly inadequate to review potential public safety concerns associated and recklessly and needlessly endangers consumer health. A recent New York Times article reported, 'the engineered salmon have slightly higher levels of insulin-like growth factor,' and 'some studies suggest that high levels of [this] insulin-like hormone in the bloodstream are associated with greater risk.'
"The FDA's review process lacks transparency. It has been nearly impossible for the public to obtain clear information about the FDA's process or particulars about the fish itself. According to existing regulations, FDA is not required to release important details regarding AquaBounty's GE salmon as this is considered a 'trade secret.'"
— Complaint to the F.D.A.
The blackout of information alone presents lots of questions, but we do know of an increased risk of causing diabetes, along with reducing the age that children begin puberty, as has been seen with other products containing excessive growth hormones. These are only the most obvious health effects, so we may discover the long-term effects in generations to come through the DNA mutations of our grandchildren. Perhaps having a baby with five arms will become as popular as having one with blue eyes someday.
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