Who wants to eat genetically engineered animals? Not us!

The Food and Drug Administration is very close to approving a genetically engineered salmon for human consumption. The salmon has genes from two other kinds of fish that make it grow twice as fast as other farmed salmon.

This would be the first animal approved for human consumption that has been made in a laboratory with genes from different species of animals.

The FDA public comment period on the fish closed on September 16, 2010. But Congress needs to know what you think about eating genetically engineered fish.

We know where we stand! Ben & Jerry’s is opposed to the use of genetically engineered animals for food production.

We care deeply about this issue because we know that genetically engineered cows are in development, and we don’t want their milk in our products.

What are we worried about? We believe that:

• genetically engineered (GE) animals are a step in the wrong direction towards an increasingly industrial food system that has growing environmental and social costs.


• a majority of people do not want to eat foods from GE animals, according to consumer surveys;


• the FDA has used the ‘new animal drug’ approval process to evaluate this fish, which is inappropriate. Genetically engineered animals are not animal drugs! The FDA should have an approval process specifically designed to evaluate the risks associated with GE animals;


• the FDA’s process should allow for more public input and scientific study by independent experts;


• the FDA’s process should allow for meaningful consideration of ethical concerns, animal welfare issues, and economic impacts of GE animals;


• there is no long-term data to evaluate the safety of eating foods from GE animals;


• export markets for American food products may be at risk if GE animals are commercialized in the United States

We’ve asked Congress and the White House to stop the approval of genetically engineered animals for food. Raise your voice! Tell your member of Congress to stop the approval of genetically engineered salmon!

To learn more about genetically engineered salmon, please visit our friends at the Center for Food Safety.