FDA poised to OK food from cloned animals

[Honeykiss1974]

Scientists say meat, milk just as safe as from conventional livestock
AP Wire
Updated: 51 minutes agoWASHINGTON - Federal scientists have concluded there is no difference between food from cloned animals and food from conventional livestock, setting the stage for the government to declare Thursday that cloned animals are safe for the human food supply.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16372490/

[AlexMack]

Right, well that article is a load of horseshit. 'People are uncomfortable'. Then don't tell them dumbasses. There is no difference. Holy shit.

[valkyrie]

GOOD THING BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF COWS.

Seriously, WTF.

[squirrely girl]

as a vegetarian, just not worried 'bout it

[AKA_Monet]

Agriculture has been using cloned plants--or genetically modified plants for at least 15 years. And most major grocery chains as well as canned vegetables carry GMO foods. Moreover, I wouldn't trust the packaging on Organic as far as I could throw it... And it is the USDA, not the FDA that gives that rating system... The FDA just approves the use of foodstuffs for human consumption.

And what are you all calling cloned animals? If you are talking "Dolly the Sheep" cloned animal, then that is cloning. But if you are talking about that "Sweet Pork" that has a genetically altered insulin pathway gene, which causes the muscle to taste sweeter, that happened naturally by breeding...

How many different cows do we have? Or pigs? Goats, chickens or turkeys? What about fish?

Although I am a vegetarian, I am one because of my personal decision. Not because I think the meat industry needs improvement, but because I am an informed adult who made a decision.

The worst issue with cloned animals are they get too sick with cancers or infection. Meat prices will skyrocket just to come from a cloned animal.

I wonder if folks would consider Exotic Meats as an alternative--knowing that the risks have not been checked by ANY Federal Agency... So if you eat rattlesnake, there may still be venom in is... So if you die, then tough... If you drink raw milk, you can get both E. coli or Lactobacillus poisoning... So, if you die, well, you've been informed...

A lot of steer died in California this past summer. That put a dent into the market. That is why they are probably opting for cloned animals. 1 steer cost ~$3000 to keep alive per year. And dairy cows cost more...

[blueangel]

GMO's, the possibility of cloned animals in our food suppy, viruses added to deli meats, bovine hormones, illegal pesticides sprayed on fruit brought in from South America and Mexico is why we should all buy stock in Whole Foods Markets.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by valkyrie

GOOD THING BECAUSE THEY WERE JUST ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF COWS.
Seriously, WTF.

Even though I'm not vegetarian, the thought of eating cloned meat sounds gross and very soylent green'esque.

[blueangel]

What is really disturbing is that the meat will not be labeled as coming from a cloned animal or from a descendent of a cloned animal. That takes away our choice, much in the same way as the FDA's recent approval of adding viruses to lunch meat without labeling.

The Consumer Federation of America has been against the FDA's plan to allow cloned meat for quite a while. Ms. Foreman makes some very good arguments about allowing cloned meat in our food supply.

Here is a news release I received back in October on the subject:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carol Tucker Foreman
October 17, 2006
Phone: 202-441-4510
CFA’S CAROL TUCKER FOREMAN ON FDA’S INTENTION TO
FOIST MEAT AND MILK FROM CLONED ANIMALS ON
UNWILLING PUBLIC

The Food and Drug Administration is, once again, flirting with inflicting meat and milk from cloned animals on the consuming public despite the fact that almost two-thirds of Americans oppose the technology and don’t want to eat cloned milk and meat. By not requiring that cloned milk and meat be labeled, the U.S. Government is permitting these ethically questionable products to be foisted on a reluctant public through secrecy and stealth. There will be no freedom to choose in the cloned milk and meat marketplace.

Independent polls taken over several years, including one by the Gallup organization and the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology show over 60 percent of Americans oppose animal cloning and would not purchase cloned meat and milk even if the government says they are safe.

Three times in the last four years the FDA has stated it has evidence that the cloned milk and meat are safe and will soon be on the market. The FDA has, however, never made its full risk assessment or scientific studies available to the public nor provided an opportunity to comment.

Claims that cloning is safe for animals are questionable. Clone pregnancies, even those in the studies FDA cites to support cloning, often end in miscarriage and many of the animals are deformed or do not survive to maturity. FDA has acknowledged that there
are more negative outcomes of pregnancy than in other forms of assisted reproduction but says they are similar in nature to problems that arise in non-cloned animals. In other words, it is okay to increase the number of animals that suffer as long as they don’t suffer in new ways.

A flood of milk from highly productive cloned cows is not good for the taxpayers. Americans have a milk surplus that has cost taxpayers over $5 billion in the last five years. Surplus milk is turned into high fat products that then go to school children adding fat and cholesterol to their diets.

Page 2
There is, in short, no public value from a technology that raises serious concerns regarding cruelty to animals and the nasty underlying threat that this is the first step down
the slippery slope to human cloning.
# # # # #
Consumer Federation of America is a non-profit association of 300 consumer groups, representing more
than 50 million Americans. It was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research,
education and advocacy. The Food Policy Institute at CFA works to promote a safer, healthier and more affordable food supply.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by blueangel

What is really disturbing is that the meat will not be labeled as coming from a cloned animal or from a descendent of a cloned animal. That takes away our choice, much in the same way as the FDA's recent approval of adding viruses to lunch meat without labeling.

I hate this argument - it doesn't actually "remove choice" in any form at all, and to claim this is purely sensationalism.

The real issue is how much responsibility should be placed on the consumer, or on the company/labeling - it certainly appears that this firmly places all responsibility on the consumer, which is NOT the same as limiting choice. Be upset because the government is kowtowing to corporate concerns to save a buck, but don't make up nonsense 'choice' issues.

It's like the walrus complaining about the stolen bucket . . .

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by blueangel

GMO's, the possibility of cloned animals in our food suppy, viruses added to deli meats, bovine hormones, illegal pesticides sprayed on fruit brought in from South America and Mexico is why we should all buy stock in Whole Foods Markets.

I was under the impression that not everything at Whole Foods was organic.

[Drolefille]

The FDA has found no differences in meat from cloned vs non-cloned food animals (except sheep, sheep aren't approved yet). Yeah, the FDA isn't perfect but they're a pretty gun-shy organization. If there's a hint of increased negative effects they tend to pull it.

Seems like those who don't want cloned meat or milk from cloned cows will have the option of buying "clone-free" or something similar. Ben & Jerry's is already looking into labeling.

[tunatartare]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I was under the impression that not everything at Whole Foods was organic.

It's not, but even the stuff that isn't tends to be all-natural or more environmentally conscious than products in a regular supermarket.

[AlphaFrog]

Can someone explain why cloning would be a more cost effective way of production then breeding?? It's not like in the cartoons where you put a full grown cow in the cloning machine and another full grown cow comes out, ready for slaughter. You still have to raise the thing from a baby calf, so what's the difference if that calf is cloned or if Bessie got her freak on with the steer next door? Why not let Bessie have her fun?

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I hate this argument - it doesn't actually "remove choice" in any form at all, and to claim this is purely sensationalism.

The real issue is how much responsibility should be placed on the consumer, or on the company/labeling - it certainly appears that this firmly places all responsibility on the consumer, which is NOT the same as limiting choice. Be upset because the government is kowtowing to corporate concerns to save a buck, but don't make up nonsense 'choice' issues.

It's like the walrus complaining about the stolen bucket . . .

So you don't believe in food labeling? You "trust" the FDA to decide what's safe and what isn't? Remember, the FDA said Vioxx was safe.

And.. regarding Whole Foods.. nobody said everything was organic.. however.. you are able to CHOOSE organic foods. They are clearly labeled.

[Drolefille]

Vioxx is safe if you don't take ever increasing doses to manage your pain. THEN it causes heart attacks.

You can choose to eat "clone free" foods or whatever the final phrasing is. So far that includes Ben and Jerry's. Of course, that won't be a legal phrase either (much like "free-range") so good luck.


I have no idea why they want to sell cloned meat either Alphafrog. I'm missing something