The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Genetically modified (GM) pigs for food and medical use in the US. The pigs are only the second GM animal to be approved for food after GM salmon (AquAdvantage) in 2015.
- These pigs have been referred as GalSafe pigs.
- The GM pigs have been engineered (intentional genomic alteration: IGA) to eliminate alpha-gal, a sugar found in pigs that can cause allergic reactions.
- Intentional genomic alteration in animals means making specific changes to the genome of the organism using modern molecular technologies that are popularly referred to as “genome editing” or “genetic engineering”.
- The USFDA has suggested the meat might be sold by mail order.
- The decision has drawn mixed reactions.
(Source: The Guardian and Indian Express)
