FDA’s approval of AquaBounty Technologies’ application for AquAdvantage Salmon, an Atlantic salmon that reaches market size more quickly than non-genetically engineered (GE) fish, brought cheers from food industry groups. Pamela Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), notes the agency also denied a petition for mandatory labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food products.

“FDA made the right decision for the right reasons, standing with sound science and recognizing the world’s most respected and authoritative scientific and regulatory bodies have repeatedly found genetically engineered ingredients to be safe,” Bailey says.

According to Bailey, the food industry plans to work with Congress to enact a uniform national standard for food labeling that she says will prevent a costly, confusing patchwork of state labeling mandates.

FDA issued two guidances for manufacturers that wish to voluntarily label their products as containing ingredients from GE or non-GE sources: a draft guidance on labeling foods derived from Atlantic salmon and a final guidance on foods derived from GE plants.