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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved genetically-modified salmon more than a week ago and the debate about whether or not this type of salmon should be eaten, based on ethics, has continued. Costco, a wholesale company, has taken an opposing stance.

Costco announced on Friday that it will not be carrying and selling the fish, known as AquAdvantage Salmon, which is produced by AquaBounty.

"Based on the information available to us at this time, however, and the absence of regulatory approval, we do not plan to sell GMO salmon," Costco said in a statement.

"Salmon is too important for our diets, economy and cultural heritage to accept anything made in a lab-we want the real deal and applaud Costco for ensuring its customers that's what they'll get when they shop there," Heather Day, executive director of Seattle-based Community Alliance for Global Justice, said reported by takepart.

Other companies that have vowed not to sell the salmon include Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Safeway and Korger.

The FDA approved AquAdvanage Salmon after it concluded that there were ""no biologically relevant differences in the nutritional profile of AquAdvantage Salmon compared to that of other farm-raised Atlantic salmon."

AquAdvantage Salmon has been genetically modified to grow much faster than the traditional farm-raised salmon. The salmon contains an added growth hormone gene that can be found in traditional salmon. The gene in the AquAdvatage salmon, however, is activated for a longer period of time with the help of another added gene taken from the ocean pout.

The FDA stated that the fish will not pose any harm to the environment, especially since the majority of the fish will be sterile. The fish that will be bred will be kept in highly secured systems.

The fish is expected to hit stores in about two years.