Should genetically modified salmon be allowed for sale in the US?

Scientists at AquaBounty have spent the last 17 years trying to bring genetically modified (GM) salmon to US dinner tables, and now, it seems like it may finally happen. In December, the FDA determined that the biotechnology firm’s AquAdvantage salmon would have “no significant impact” on the environment, paving the way for the fish to become the first GM food deemed fit for human consumption. As BBC News reports, AquAdvantage salmon are capable of growing twice as fast as their natural counterparts, though their production has raised some concerns among environmental groups. AquaBounty, for its part, says its fish are all female and sterile, thereby posing no threat to natural ecosystems, but serious trepidation still lingers, as evidenced by California’s recent debate over GM food labels.