| December 28, 2006 |  |
Scientists Say Cloning Animals for Food has Uncertain Benefits, Many Drawbacks
Scientists Say Cloning Animals for Food has Uncertain Benefits, Many Drawbacks
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a more comprehensive review of food products from cloned animals and their offspring before lifting a voluntary moratorium on their sale to consumers. As the policy stands now, once the moratorium is lifted, consumers will have no knowledge of or control over whether animal clones or their offspring are in their food.
"Although the products of cloned animals and their progeny will most likely be safe for human consumption, we would like to see more comprehensive studies, specifically designed to examine food safety," Dr. Margaret Mellon, Director of UCS's Food and Environment Program. "If consumers aren't going to be told if their meat is from a clone, FDA has to be certain that meat is safe."
Although successful clones are apparently normal, a small possibility remains that some may harbor subtle genetic defects that could render them unsafe for consumption.
Most attempted clones are grossly defective and are lost early in development (cloning success rates generally range from zero to 20 percent). Defects among cloned animals include overly large fetuses, placental disorders and inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Although defects occur at a higher rate among cloned animals than with other assisted reproductive technologies, FDA dismissed animal health concerns because the defects are not unique to cloning.
"The issue is not whether or not cloning produces unique defects," said Dr. Mellon, "but rather how much animal suffering is acceptable in the search for higher productivity.
"The fact that normal animals have already been bred intensively to increase milk and meat production calls into question the potential value of cloning animals," said Dr. Mellon. "And any technical advances in cloning food animals would transfer easily to attempts at cloning humans. This is a very slippery slope."
"FDA should delay lifting the voluntary moratorium on animal cloning for food until the success rate of producing apparently normal animals improves dramatically," said Dr. Mellon. "If cloned animals are allowed in the food system, the FDA should develop a system for registering and monitoring the production and use of cloned food animals. FDA should also develop a system for labeling milk and meat from clones and their offspring."
The Union of Concerned Scientists puts rigorous, independent science to work to solve our planet's most pressing problems. Joining with citizens across the country, we combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.
