Smoked Frankenfish May Not Wind Up On Any Bagels Soon*

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Sep 23, 2010 at 14:06:35 PM PDT

That's the latest. I recommend checking out Marion Nestle's piece The GM Salmon Saga Continues. First, the FDA will offer a 30-day comment period on the Environmental Assessment of the salmon (see more on the EA at the link). After that, they will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact or an Environmental Impact Statement. Those findings will result in a decision on whether or not they approve the salmon. The FDA is not giving any sort of timeline on when they will do this, although legally the timeframe is typically 180 days after the New Animal Drug application was submitted. Once the fish is approved, it will take 2 years to come to market.

The VMAC committee that met this past week apparently told the FDA it didn't have enough data to make a decision yet (which sounds about right, based on the actual data submitted to them). But in the meeting Tuesday about labeling, pretty much no one was for mandatory labeling. Apparently Greg Jaffe of CSPI wants AquaBounty to provide voluntary labels that say something like "AquaBounty salmon," "fast-growing salmon" or "environmentally friendly salmon." What?! Environmentally friendly? And Fox News is fair and balanced.

Last, but not least, the CEO of AquaBounty said he doesn't plan to confine production to Panama, hoping to open other operations in other countries, including the U.S. Fortunately, THIS approval process is ONLY for Panama, so he'd have to go through the whole legal process again before he could set up shop anywhere else.

Today's News on Frankenfish

by: Jill Richardson

Wed Sep 22, 2010 at 11:34:53 AM PDT

Beyond sharp and predictable differences over whether genetically engineered salmon belongs in the food supply, a rough consensus emerged Tuesday at a Food and Drug Administration hearing on labeling requirements: If the fish is approved for market, consumers should have a way to avoid it.

I'd like to see a new law passed here. Check out what the FDA says about labeling laws:

Under current law, FDA does not have the authority to require labeling based on consumer interest alone. For example, in Stauber v. Shalala, the court explained that, absent evidence of a material difference between milk from rBST-treated cows and non-rBST-treated cows, the use of consumer demand as a rationale for mandatory additional labeling would violate the law.

(The "Stauber" in that case is almost certainly MY FRIEND John Stauber. Kinda cool... but would be cooler if he had won his case.)

More news:
Panel Advises More Aggressive FDA Analysis of Engineered Salmon:

While a genetically engineered salmon is almost certainly safe to eat, the government should pursue a more rigorous analysis of the fish's possible health effects and environmental impact, members of a federal advisory committee said yesterday.

That is GREAT news. Although, with the data provided by AquaBounty and the FDA, the panel would have to be either entirely corrupt or stupid to decide otherwise.

Biotech Salmon Leaves Many Questions:

The first genetically modified animal aimed at consumers' dinner plates faces an uncertain future following a federal advisory panel on Monday that gave a mixed assessment on whether such food -- a salmon -- is safe to eat.

A number of the Food and Drug Administration's panelists raised concerns about the fast growing fish, made by Aqua Bounty Technologies Inc, saying there was not enough data to answer key questions about allergens and other potential risks.

"There are questions that have not been answered by the data that has been presented," panelist James McKean, a veterinarian and professor at Iowa State University, said.

But other panel members argued there was no difference between the altered salmon and its natural counterpart.

"I would not feel alarmed about eating this kind of fish," said Gary Thorgaard, a professor and fish researcher at Washington State University.

(I'd like to point out that saying the fish is probably safe is entirely different from saying that there's enough data to approve it.)

GE or Not, Farming Carnivorous Fish is Stupid

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Sep 21, 2010 at 14:33:56 PM PDT

He says:

But while GM salmon-and the engineering of other species for food-might help alleviate some of the pressure on wild fish, the debate misses the point. We've made an elemental mistake with aquaculture, choosing to farm the fish that we're used to catching and eating-like salmon or bass or cod-even though these species haven't taken very well to becoming our chickens of the sea. Even though the salmon farming industry has managed to improve its efficiency, farmed salmon still need  about 1 lb. of wild fish for feed per 1 lb. of salmon-so aquaculture becomes another cause behind the long emptying of the sea. The proportion is even worse for species like bluefin tuna, which are just beginning to be farmed. And even a more efficient GM salmon will do nothing to change the environmental problems associated with salmon farming.

Hallelujah. I'm glad someone's saying it. Fish farming of carnivorous fish is STUPID.

GE Salmon: Part 2

by: Jill Richardson

Mon Sep 20, 2010 at 14:49:13 PM PDT

The long story short is that the committee that is hearing the salmon case today doesn't have any fish, salmon, or biotech experts on it (it's a committee of vets), so they added four "temporary voting members" with expertise fish and biotech. Two are scientists who are into GE animals (one used to work for Monsanto!), and one - the "consumer rep" - is a lawyer, not a scientist, who is highly pro-biotech. One of the scientists and the consumer rep (even calling him that makes me convulse in anger!) have both served on the USDA's heavily pro-biotech "AC21" biotech advisory committee alongside reps from Monsanto, DuPont, and Cargill. The fourth is a fish expert (the ONLY fish expert) who specializes in polyploidy, not genetic engineering.

Additionally, the FDA only gave the public 14 days to comment on the science used to justify the GE salmon's safety. And, as Consumers' Union points out, why is the FDA violating its own law here (as it would be if it approves the GE salmon)? All of the research on the salmon was done in Canada, but the salmon would be approved for production in Panama. According to the rules they are using to regulate the GE fish as a New Animal Drug, that should not be allowed.

Countdown to Legal Frankenfish (ACTION)

by: Jill Richardson

Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 14:37:11 PM PDT

The truth is that the creepy science is one thing - it makes for good tweets and blog post titles - but it's the sloppy, misleading science that's the bigger issue here. And the FDA's willingness to accept that as proof of the GE fish's safety. As I noted in the article, this isn't just about whether this one fish is safe... it's about our process of approving genetically engineered animals, particularly those that will be used for food. If sloppy science is acceptable now, what else will be legalized without a thorough check for safety? And what sorts of dangers will make their way into the U.S. food supply before anyone recognizes the harm they cause?

What's more, I've just learned that this article is merely "Part 1" of the story. There is even MORE bad science and regulatory mischief to be exposed, which I will hopefully do in the coming days.

If you don't want to find smoked frankenfish on a future bagel you eat, take action here.

AquaBounty Spent $30K Lobbying for Legalizing Frankenfish

by: Jill Richardson

Thu Sep 09, 2010 at 22:55:10 PM PDT

Their lobbyist is one Steve Kopperud, former senior vice president of the American Feed Industry Association. In other words, he's got over 25 years of experience lobbying the government on behalf of Big Ag. He takes credit for working on every farm bill since 1985, and he worked on the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, a law used to bust animal rights activists. He also worked on the Animal Drug Availability Act and the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act. He's also the founder and past president of the Animal Agriculture Alliance (formerly known as the Animal Industry Foundation). Looks like AquaBounty is getting their money's worth.

Sampler Platter

by: Jill Richardson

Sun Sep 05, 2010 at 07:46:20 AM PDT

• The FDA thinks frankenfish - genetically engineered salmon - are safe. Not good. I've included a press release from Center for Food Safety, Consumers Union, and Food and Water Watch on this below. (Acton alert here)

• Get this: we waste more energy from throwing out food than we gain from offshore drilling.

• Parke Wilde analyzes the USDA's report on energy use in the food system and tells us what the report REALLY said.

• Great piece looking at the rise of mega-dairies and feedlots in Idaho.

• A Mozambique protest over high food prices left 10 dead, 440 wounded. Police shot live ammunition into the crowd.

• There's an action alert to tell Eli Lilly to "STOP MILKING CANCER!" They produce both rbGH (which is linked to cancer) and cancer drugs. Kinda handy way to make money both coming and going, isn't it?

• Bad new from Europe on a trade deal between the EU and India.

• Science Friday looked at organics this past Friday.

• Jesus. The court said no GE sugar beets, and now the USDA's issuing permits to plant them. WTF? (By the way, this one came to my inbox in an email that was brilliantly titled "USDA throws Hail Mary")

• On the same topic, Forbes magazine spoke out in favor of GE sugarbeets. Lame. Note to Forbes: Don't write about stuff you know nothing about.

• Oh geez. Could farmers' market eggs come from a factory farm? This from the Humane Society says it's possible.

• Beautiful op ed by Nicholas Kristof about battery cages and factory egg production. And another one by the CEO of Bon Appetit.

• Dude, Alec Baldwin's a foodie!

• If there's one thing I hate, it's the attempted mitigation of awful automated response technology by giving it a human name. I really have no interest in asking my food safety questions to a computer program named Karen.

Norway, British Columbia: The Environmental Tragedy of Salmon Farming

by: Jill Richardson

Tue Feb 02, 2010 at 17:47:53 PM PST

Fortunately, the Canadians are not taking this lying down. The Canadian-based radio show Deconstructing Dinner ran a fantastic series about salmon farming called "Norway, British Columbia." I just listened to the entire series and I highly recommend it - particularly Episodes 2 and 3. As noted by the radio show, a judge recently ruled that the B.C. government does not have jurisdiction over salmon farms. That belongs to the federal government of Canada. It remains to be seen how this will actually change salmon farming in Canada (or if will have any impact at all).

Massive Farmed Salmon Jailbreak In British Columbia

by: JayinPortland

Mon Oct 26, 2009 at 17:35:27 PM PDT

As if that wasn't enough of a problem, it seems that the company may have taken their emergency response procedures directly from FEMA's playbook, circa 2005 -

But the recapture vessel was not able to start fishing until Thursday and by that time, gillnetters in areas such as Sointula, about 40 kilometres from the Broughton Archipelago, were reporting catches of Atlantic salmon.

"The response time really troubles me," said Chief Bob Chamberlin of the nearby Kwicksutaineuk-Ah-Kwaw-Ah-Mish band.

"One of the only reasons we found out was because a commercial fishery was going on and they were catching Atlantics."

Marine Harvest, the company who runs this particular salmon farm, has also been responsible for other major previous escapes.  Escaped farm fish have been found in 80 rivers in the province, and over 100,000 farmed salmon escaped into British Columbia's waters in 2008.  Gilford Island, where the escape occurred, is also home to a large First Nations population, many of whom rely upon subsistence fishing in the area.

Chamberlin, who is also secretary-treasurer of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, an organization that's pushing for more First Nations involvement as regulation of fish farms passes from the provincial to the federal government in February, said assurances from the industry that Atlantic salmon won't affect Pacific salmon have been proved wrong.

Sampler Platter 09.25.09

by: JayinPortland

Fri Sep 25, 2009 at 13:00:00 PM PDT

• The State of Oklahoma's lawsuit against the poultry industry for fouling (easy pun passed over, heh) the Illinois River watershed got underway in a Tulsa federal courthouse yesterday.  Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is suing Tyson, Cargill and nine other companies for violation of numerous state and federal laws.

• Jim Hightower takes on local-washing and corporate-speak.  "Such 'down-home' companies as Unilever and HSBC"... lol!

• The Humboldt jumbo squid that have been swarming the San Diego coastline all summer are now beginning to wash up as far north as the central Oregon Coast; a sardine mystery is being investigated on Oregon's North Coast; and US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco publish an Op-Ed on the government's Northwest salmon plan.

• Here's another piece on the culture clash between the old and the new in New York City street food.

• The City of San Jose, California has just passed what is called the nation's strictest bag ban. The ordinance will prohibit all retailers except for restaurants and nonprofits from giving out single-use plastic bags, and will only allow them to give out paper bags (which must be at least 40% recycled) for a fee.

• Sustainable transportation news roundup: a census survey released today ranks Portland as #1 of America's 30 largest cities in terms of bicycle commuting, with 6.4% of Portlanders getting to work via bike, a jump of more than 50% since 2007; Streetsblog NYC makes the case for openness in MTA data to improve riders' transit experience; and the feasability study on reinstatement of Amtrak's old Pioneer Route (Seattle & Portland to Salt Lake City & Denver via Eastern Oregon and Idaho) has just been released.  Why is it that highways and airports are never expected to be self-sustaining, while rail transit always is?  It's long past time that we stopped leaving most of the West to the tyranny of compulsory private automobile travel.

• The Bend-La Pine School District in Central Oregon is seeking to make its new elementary school one of the greenest public schools in the nation.

Sampler Platter 05.21.09

by: JayinPortland

Thu May 21, 2009 at 06:00:00 AM PDT

• Surprise!  A plastics industry-funded study claims that reuseable cloth grocery bags are a threat to their bottom line your health.  The gist of their study?  You can get really sick if you don't occasionally clean them, or if you also use them to carry dirty diapers and gym clothes.  (Note to self: keep soiled diapers separate from strawberries.)  Also, it's dangerous to use them for unwrapped raw meat.  (Btw - you can buy unwrapped raw meat at the grocery store?  Never knew that...)  They also point out that their brand new, single-use plastic bags are sterile and safe.  Natch.  In other news, the fossil fuel industry is going to soon claim that solar power is bad because if you sit in the sun and don't move for hours at a time, you could get a really bad burn.  And wind is just terrible because it can knock things over, and steal children's balloons and stuff...

• Action Alert: Let's ask Congress to put the "health" into health care reform, and increase funding for CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO).  This currently underfunded program provides funding to states for programs like building bike paths, starting up farmers' markets and initiating worksite wellness programs, in order to help prevent many of our diet-related diseases from ever becoming problems in the first place.

• California and Massachusetts have already passed statewide menu labeling legislation, Oregon is just about there, and now New York may become the next state to require chain restaurants (and convenience stores) to post calorie counts on their menus.

• Scientists and recreational divers are teaming up once again to conduct a fish census in the Puget Sound.

• U.S. District Judge James Redden has again told the federal government that their restoration plans for Columbia Basin salmon are too weak.

• A researcher in the Skagit River Delta has just come across a rare find, tidal beavers.  He also found that the beavers build prime habitat for threatened young salmon.

• Curtis Abbey mentioned this the other day, and in case you missed it - video of The Simpsons' take on fast food greenwashing is up at Grist.

Sampler Platter: "Don't Know What You've Got Til It's Gone" Edition

by: JayinPortland

Fri May 15, 2009 at 05:30:00 AM PDT

• Scientists with kitchen utensils and model-train glue represent the last hope for the Puget Sound's pinto abalone.

• We ain't gonna bring back paradise to the parking lots, but maybe we can make something out of them after all.  I remain a Kunstlerian skeptic about those places; but at least our thinking is on the right track these days...

• The online link is subscription-only, but if you have one Harper's has a great piece this month on Alaska's disappearing salmon.

• The birds and the bees still can't catch a break from DDT.

• Speaking of which, almost one in eight bird species worldwide currently face extinction.

• Yeah, when you're resorting to having to catch, sell and eat the babies of a popular fish species, that probably does not bode well for the future of said species...

• The number of eels in European waters are down by 95% over the last 25 years.

• The oldest surviving human culture in the Andes, who've been around for over 4,000 years, may soon become the latest victims of climate change.

• Let's close this out with a bit of good news - this piece of Ancient Oregon is now owned by all of us, and will be preserved forever.

Sampler Platter 05.13.09

by: JayinPortland

Wed May 13, 2009 at 15:15:00 PM PDT

• The FDA has sent a warning letter to General Mills, telling the company to stop promoting Cheerios as a health food.  (For a funny take on the Right Wing blogosphere's outrage (grrrr!) at FDA's "attack" on America cereal, see here.)  Meanwhile, Health Canada unfortunately seems to want to make it easier for food manufacturers to be able to market junk as "health food" in their country...

• Elementary school students are snacking on (and learning about) healthy local produce in Madison, Wisconsin.

• Can't say this is really a surprise - from Grist, Monsanto is now firing off their propaganda on National Petrol, errrrr, National Public Radio.  Great article debunking Monsanto's claims, but it's not like the oil companies, ADM and other corporate interests haven't already been scrubbing themselves "clean" in their own greenshowers over the airwaves of NPR for years and years and years...

• Fantastic article from Ken Olsen at High Country News on the intersection of agriculture, business, politics, power and salmon - and what government ultimately needs to do to help restore wild salmon runs in the Pacific Northwest.

More below the fold...  

Earth Day Fish & Water Sampler Platter

by: JayinPortland

Wed Apr 22, 2009 at 13:59:55 PM PDT

• The American pharmaceutical industry is still dumping hundreds of millions of pounds of drug residues into our water supplies.

• Two California-based environmentalists and researchers are cycling 2,000 miles down the Pacific Coast to raise awareness about the massive plastic soup in the North Pacific.  I can't even come up with the words to describe how angry the picture with this article makes me - an adult turtle who was grossly deformed by crawling into a plastic ring while young, and whose body grew around it.  

• And also (we all saw this one coming), the plastic-bag industry and the American Chemistry Council are kicking up the greenwashing a few notches.

• An article from Canada looks at the ongoing attempts at sustainability in sushi restaurants.

• A commonly used home garden pesticide, carbaryl, which is sold under the brand name "Sevin" (which has also been classified by EPA as a likely human carcinogen and is banned in the UK, Germany and several other countries...), has been identified as a threat to salmon and steelhead populations throughout the Northwest.

• The National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking our input as to how to form the rules protecting the now-endangered Cook Inlet (Alaska) beluga whales.

• A new study finds that the world's major rivers are drying up, and the Christian Science Monitor takes a look at how things might play out along the Colorado River for the Southwestern United States and Mexico.

• The European Union on Wednesday called for major cuts in the European commercial fishing fleet, and is cracking down on illegal fishing, to help overfished stocks recover.  88% of EU stocks are overfished, according to the commission.

Sampler Platter Meets Pot Luck

by: JayinPortland

Sun Apr 19, 2009 at 19:00:00 PM PDT

• A nice piece from (Bend, OR's) Bend Weekly touches on farm-to-school, and describes how school district food buyers and local farmers can connect.

• Hooray for Oklahoma City!  The people of the city will soon be able to enjoy great local craft brews...and the best part?  Unlike their NBA team, they do not have to steal it from Seattle!

• 44 million dollars of federal stimulus money will go towards aiding migrating salmon and making more efficient use of irrigation water in Central Washington.

• The Cass County Board of Supervisors in Southwest Iowa have just approved funding that will make them the latest government to have a local food policy council and a regional foods coordinator.  Kick ass, Cass!

• A view from Across The Pond (besides AAF's awesome input, of course...) - John-Paul Flintoff writes about digging for Britain.

• Surprise!  A quick NY Times blog piece drools over Portland's food scene.  Again.  I agree with her on the first point, though - the prices are amazing here.  There are at least a dozen fantastic restaurants / cafes / brewpubs within walking distance of my apartment (Inner SE Portland) where I can get a great (local, seasonal, organic) meal for pretty much the same price as a fast "food" "value" meal.  And since most of them are based around healthy whole grains, they'll also keep you full for much longer than the empty calorie "convenience" crap ever could.

• Closing out National Library Week, I have to include this piece from Emily Underwood at High Country News on the importance of small-town libraries.

• Also from High Country News, Michele Haefele writes that United States Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is on the right track.

• From the "Yet More Corporate Astroturf" files: Agribiz interests in California are organizing and paying for phony protests.  IMO, we need to focus on the real problem here, which is the destructiveness of these ridiculously unsustainable agricultural techniques.  It isn't "Pacific smelt vs. workers".  Rather, the real issue is "corporate greed and shortsightedness vs. workers and the rest of humanity and wildlife".

Use this diary as an open thread...