FDA poised to OK food from cloned animals

[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.

[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.

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by 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.

So you don't think the FDA gives into pressure from the major drug companies?

http://www.organicconsumers.org/poli...rrupt21705.cfm

[Drolefille]

Organicconsumers.org does not appear to be an unbiased source. And the FDA's procedures for food vs. drugs are different. Drugs will always have negative side effects. It's what they do. Food should not.

Basically every painkiller increases the chance of death in people with heart problems. High doses even more so. I don't have the newspaper article I was reading about how the official dosages did not have as significant side effects as the increased dosages doctors prescribed. They fell into the trap of thinking it was "safe" It's never safe. PR killed Vioxx more than anything else.

/Yeah I said "safe" earlier, but it's a relative scale thing.

If studies show no difference in cloned vs. non-cloned meat than the only thing different is your perception of it.

[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?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by 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?

So there are several reasons why "cloning" is more cost effective of some kinds of production for foods:

Let's take your example of a cow. Calves take too long to wean. Unless you want veal, you MUST leave the calf with the mother.

As I understand it, it takes ~200+ days to have a calf or 10-11 months depend on size. Some strains of bovine do not breed as sucessfully as mixed breed.

Most mixed breed do not produce enough milk or quality of meat--i.e. too tough, etc.

Breeding takes too long. Sometime the stud doesn't impregnate the females. Sometimes he doesn't know where to put it. So, do you want to wait for production? Knowing the U.S. population's desire for a good steak or tenderloin?

Well, with molecular genetics the scientists, vets, physicians, big pharma, corporations, just move evolution a little faster than normal time...

[RU OX Alum]

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.

there won't be any cloned meat in the food supply, that would be too expensive, the cloned animals are for breeding only

I see no problem with this practice whatsoever....other than obvious economic factors (we can export even less now probably)

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

there won't be any cloned meat in the food supply, that would be too expensive, the cloned animals are for breeding only

Playing devil's advocate, because I just don't care either way whether they clone or not:

I have a feeling that the same people that don't want to eat cloned meat, would also have a problem eating the offspring of cloned meat.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Playing devil's advocate, because I just don't care either way whether they clone or not:

I have a feeling that the same people that don't want to eat cloned meat, would also have a problem eating the offspring of cloned meat.

yeah, maybe, but I just wanted to clairify a little.

the people who oppose this probably don't want sick people to ever get better either, because that goes against "God's will" or "Nature"

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

yeah, maybe, but I just wanted to clairify a little.

the people who oppose this probably don't want sick people to ever get better either, because that goes against "God's will" or "Nature"

That's a pretty ridiculous claim to be making.

[valkyrie]

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

the people who oppose this probably don't want sick people to ever get better either, because that goes against "God's will" or "Nature"

Well, I oppose cloning animals for any reason but still think it would be really neat if sick people got better. Soooo, I'd have to disagree with your assertion.