Frankenfish for Sale

Despite the risks, the federal government has given the final OK for genetically engineered (GE) salmon to be marketed and sold as food. The GE salmon is engineered using genes from two other fish, supposedly making it grow twice as fast as those in the wild. This is a gross misuse of biotechnology and it puts the welfare of animals at serious risk!

AAVS previously reviewed research data from studies on GE salmon and concluded that the fish are “frequently deformed and have jaw erosions, have visible inflammation and lesions, and are more susceptible to disease, leading to high rates of mortality.”

The GE salmon will be raised in indoor tanks—factory farms for fish, pushing them to the limits of what they can tolerate, subjecting them to accelerated, unnatural growth and crowding. There is ample evidence that fish are sentient animals, capable of pain and stress, and this escalation of intensive farming of fish is a science experiment gone very wrong.

However, the Prevention of Escapement of Genetically Altered Salmon in the United States Act, would prohibit GE salmon, not just for food, but for any reason. Also, if GE salmon were to reach grocery store shelves, the Genetically Engineered Salmon Labeling Act would help consumers be informed by requiring clear labels stating “genetically engineered” on packaging containing GE salmon.

Tell your legislators that genetically engineering animals for food is a bad use of science and can lead to unnecessary animal suffering and potential harm to the environment.

Neurological disease research can be particularly disturbing and raises serious welfare concerns for animals who are purposefully injured so they lose their mobility. However, scientists in the UK were recently recognized for their development of a non-animal model to study ALS, a progressive neurological disorder that causes paralysis and eventually death in humans. The researchers hope this alternative can replace the use of mice, who are often used to study ALS, despite being poor models of this human disease. READ MORE »

A shocking video documenting dogs being force-fed pesticide chemicals as part of a test commissioned by Corteva AgriScience, a division of DowDuPont, was released by The Humane Society of the United States earlier this month. Following much public outrage, and confirmation that such testing was not required to sell the pesticide in Brazil, the company announced an “immediate” end to the study and stated that it will “make every effort to rehome” the dogs. READ MORE »

Some laboratories housing chimpanzees have tried to block efforts to move these animals to the Chimp Haven sanctuary, claiming the chimps are better off staying at their lab facilities. However, this video shows why sanctuary is best for chimpanzees retired from research. The chimps receive personalized veterinary care and treatment and, importantly, get to choose: to be inside or outside, who is their best friend, or even to double-dip in the termite mound. WATCH NOW »