Playing with one’s food could be taken to new and greater heights should the Food and Drug Administration approve the sale of genetically engineered salmon for public consumption.

An advisory committee told the FDA that the “GE” salmon that grows twice as fast as the conventional fish appears to be safe but also argued more testing may be needed ….

If the FDA approves the sale of the salmon, it will be the first time the government allows such modified animals to be marketed for human consumption. …

Ron Stotish, CEO of the company that created the salmon, AquaBounty, said his company’s fish product is safe and environmentally sustainable. …

Critics call the modified salmon a “frankenfish” that could cause allergies in humans and the eventual decimation of the wild salmon population. …

Part of the hearing focuses on labeling of the fish. Current FDA regulations require modified foods to be labeled as such only if the food is substantially different from the conventional version. …

We believe genetically engineered salmon should be labeled as such….

We also feel the FDA should take its time in deciding whether to approve the genetically engineered salmon for sale and public consumption. …

(W)e feel no stone should be left unturned with regard to research and safety tests, and we feel any ruling that’s delivered by the FDA should err on the side of caution.

The (Willoughby) News-Herald