FDA poised to OK food from cloned animals

[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 . . .

[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

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

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

If that is the case, why was it taken off the market? Would be interested in reading something that backs up your statement.

From what I've read-- there were problems even during clinical trials.
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6627

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by 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

I agree! I dont get the wanting to sell cloned meat deal. I agree that it would seem more expensive to produce than breeding. I guess I just dont understand why they think it's necessary to do that.

As far as prescription drugs go that is so true! There are probably a few dangerous ones that have slipped through the cracks over the years but for the most part I believe they are safe (if used as directed) when they come out. There is no such thing as a completely safe drug, not even something as seemingly simple and common as Tylenol. It's the consumer/patient that neglects to follow dosing instructions and/or health care providers that neglect to look at the list of medications the patient is currently taking before putting them on the latest drug (which can cause adverse reactions such as Viagra and hypertension medications for example) AND neglecting to do a complete history and physical to rule out certain medical conditions that would make the medication contraindicated for that patient. But having said that a list of medications and medical history at least from the subjective information end are only as good as what the patient tells you.

As far as Vioxx being pulled.....most drugs tend to be pulled when law suits are filed against them regardless of why the law suits are filed.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

I agree! I dont get the wanting to sell cloned meat deal. I agree that it would seem more expensive to produce than breeding. I guess I just dont understand why they think it's necessary to do that.

As far as prescription drugs go that is so true! There are probably a few dangerous ones that have slipped through the cracks over the years but for the most part I believe they are safe (if used as directed) when they come out. There is no such thing as a completely safe drug, not even something as seemingly simple and common as Tylenol. It's the consumer/patient that neglects to follow dosing instructions and/or health care providers that neglect to look at the list of medications the patient is currently taking before putting them on the latest drug (which can cause adverse reactions such as Viagra and hypertension medications for example) AND neglecting to do a complete history and physical to rule out certain medical conditions that would make the medication contraindicated for that patient. But having said that a list of medications and medical history at least from the subjective information end are only as good as what the patient tells you.

As far as Vioxx being pulled.....most drugs tend to be pulled when law suits are filed against them regardless of why the law suits are filed.

Found some of the "why"

WSJ article reprinted here:Cloned meat

Cloning, or producing an identical copy of an animal using the genetic material of the original, would give farmers a way to upgrade their livestock herds by replicating their prized animals, preserving valuable traits such as high meat or milk production capacity, fertility or disease resistance.


That could be a boon to the livestock industry, which so far has largely missed out on the biotechnology revolution that swept through crops a decade ago. Meat packers, for example, might prefer to buy the offspring of a cloned pig with loins the perfect size for making pork chops or cattle with just the right amount of fat in the steak. Improved, consistent quality, in turn, could boost consumer demand.

Basically they're saying that they (the FDA) knows that currently it isn't cost effective but that's not their business. And that most likely cloned animals would be bred, not served, and we'd be eating the offspring. And in the end it's not much different than the artificial insemination that is already done.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by blueangel

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.

READ THE POST.

This isn't even close to what I was arguing.

I'm a believer in markets - there, work with that.