American Morning
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each week day. Join the live chat during the show by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. You have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*) 6) Stay relevant to the topic.
Fish or Frankenfish? The FDA debates the issue
(CNN) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration held a hearing Tuesday as it considers genetically engineered salmon for human consumption. The hearing specifically focused on the food labeling policies that might be made for the AquAdvantage Salmon.
Speakers included AquaBounty Technologies Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ron Stotish; Alison L. Van Eenennaam of the University of California Davis; and Abby Brandel, Associate Chief Counsel at Food and Drug Administration
Consumer protection advocates said food should be labeled as such if it derives from a genetically modified organism. AquaBounty, on the other hand, argued that genetically modified salmon should not be required to display additional labeling as it has the same qualities as the non-GMO Atlantic salmon.
“We do not believe there is any material difference between AquAdvantage Salmon and an Atlantic salmon. This fish meets the definition as defined and accepted by the FDA,” said Stotish.
“I think we all can understand the label can play an important role in consumer purchase decisions and dietary choices,” said Abby Brandel. She added that “the FDA may not be able to require this information, it's important to note that a company can choose to include this information on a food label [or] can choose to provide the information about whether a food is or is not made from a GE organism.”
Currently, the FDA does not require special labeling for foods developed using recombinant DNA techniques.
Alison L. Van Eenennaam questioned the push for labeling, “…when we do not have or require analogous information on the fish we currently consume.”
The final verdict on GMO salmon’s place in the consumer marketplace has not been made.
Sound off: We want to hear from you this morning. Would you eat genetically modified salmon? Add your comments to the LIVE Blog below and we'll read some of them on the show.
Alzheimer’s CEO: Disease as an epidemic, financial burden
A report out this morning calls Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia an epidemic and the financial burden is nothing short of crushing.
The costs associated will total well over $600 billion this year – one percent of the World’s gross domestic product. By 2030, those costs are projected to increase by 85 percent. Harry Johns, President & CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association, joined Tuesday's American Morning to discuss the implications of the report and the growing difficulties in dealing with this disease.
Harry Johns: It's only going to increase [with] the aging of America and worldwide. Alzheimer's is not normal aging. As I know you realize, John, but it is the biggest risk factor of Alzheimer’s and going to drive the numbers substantially. Today, in America, we have an estimated 5.3 million people with the disease and that's going to go as high as 16 million by the middle of the century if we can't change the course of the disease.
Inglis on losing to Tea Party, where GOP went wrong
(CNN) – Christine O'Donnell’s surprise win in Delaware is sending shock waves through the GOP. O’Donnell is just one of several Tea Party success stories, which some say is threatening the existence of the moderate republican. Republican Congressman Bob Inglis, who lost his primary in June to a Tea Party candidate, is now speaking out against the Republican Party. Inglis spoke to John Roberts on Tuesday's American Morning about where things may have gone wrong for himself and the rest of the GOP.
Bob Inglis: I don't think we build our party by distraction and we don't serve our country by division. The key here to pull together as Americans and to build on truth, especially to build a conservative movement, a credible conservative movement, build it on truth.
The truth is that the president is not a Muslim. He's – he was born in America. And he is not a socialist. He is left of center, I’m right of center. And, in fact, he might say very right of center. But that's okay. We can have a debate about real facts. We don't need to [be]making up things because as time goes on, that gets embarrassing when you're found out to have built something on false information and on scapegoats rather than solutions. The customer turns away and says you've got nothing for me because you're not delivering a solution.
O'Donnell sidesteps specifics on funds, says 'no truth' to allegations
(CNN) – Delaware GOP Senate nominee Christine O'Donnell, in comments exclusive to CNN, refused to answer specific questions Monday night about allegations she misused funds from her previous campaign and tried to downplay their significance.
On the allegations she said there's "no truth to it."
She spoke to CNN after a candidates' forum. She asked, "Why are you listening to a liberal organization in the first place?" - referring to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan campaign watchdog group that filed a complaint Monday against the O'Donnell campaign.
Seeking to change the subject, she said "the momentum surrounding this campaign is obvious."
"I am positive we have been ethical," she said before walking off. "I personally have not misused campaign funds."
The campaign has hired a lawyer - an expert in campaign finance - to answer those charges "if it goes anywhere," O'Donnell said.
On the allegation that she used about $20,000 in funds for non-campaign purposes she said, "No truth to it....no truth to it."
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed complaints with the Delaware U.S. Attorney's Office and the Federal Election Commission against O'Donnell, charging that more than $20,000 of O'Donnell's spending in 2009 and 2010 was illegal because O'Donnell was no longer a candidate.
Reporter's Notebook: Weather Warriors
(CNN) – The Special Operations Weather Team (SOWT) is less a than a hundred person unit within the Air Force’s Special Operations Command. The SOWT’s deploy with the likes of Army Rangers, Navy Seals and other Special Forces into extremely hostile territory. Once on the ground, their duties encompass everything a special ops soldier regularly endures, in addition to assessing and interpreting weather and environmental conditions. The data a SOWT generates is not only vital for battlefield conditions for military deployments, but also for guiding in rescue choppers in real-time combat situations. Our Rob Marciano talks to SWOT soldiers in the second part of his original report, “Weather Warriors”.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
