The FDA is set to approve the marketing of meat and milk from cloned animals. Furthermore, as with genetically modified plant material, they do not plan to require labeling to identify whether one is buying this cloned food or not.
The whole subject is so disagreeable that I think it may well increase the ranks of vegetarians, or at least those seeking organic sources for their milk and meat.
There is still some hope of putting a stop to this insanity, but it may take massive citizen action, such as was needed to stop the early version of the organic food regulation which would have permitted use of sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic modification. FDA will accept public comment until April 2.
According to a statement from the Center for Food Safety [http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org]:
" Surrogate mothers are treated with high doses of hormones; clones are often born with severely compromised immune systems and frequently receive massive doses of antibiotics. This opens an avenue for large amounts of veterinary pharmaceuticals to enter the human food supply;
" Imbalances in clones' hormone, protein, and/or fat levels could compromise the quality and safety of meat and milk;
" The National Academy of Sciences warned that commercialization of cloned livestock for food production could increase the incidence of food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli infections;
" Cloning commonly results in high failure rates and defects such as intestinal blockages; diabetes; shortened tendons; deformed feet; weakened immune systems; dysfunctional hearts, brains, livers, and kidneys; respiratory distress; and circulatory problems.
With numerous unexplained and uncontrolled health problems with both the surrogate mother cow and the offspring, if it survives, and with animal cruelty and morality issues, why does FDA think we need more unhealthy food choices? They need to hear from us en masse.
Please write to Division of Docket Management HFA-305, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Include FDA docket number 2003N-0573.
The whole subject is so disagreeable that I think it may well increase the ranks of vegetarians, or at least those seeking organic sources for their milk and meat.
There is still some hope of putting a stop to this insanity, but it may take massive citizen action, such as was needed to stop the early version of the organic food regulation which would have permitted use of sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic modification. FDA will accept public comment until April 2.
According to a statement from the Center for Food Safety [http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org]:
" Surrogate mothers are treated with high doses of hormones; clones are often born with severely compromised immune systems and frequently receive massive doses of antibiotics. This opens an avenue for large amounts of veterinary pharmaceuticals to enter the human food supply;
" Imbalances in clones' hormone, protein, and/or fat levels could compromise the quality and safety of meat and milk;
" The National Academy of Sciences warned that commercialization of cloned livestock for food production could increase the incidence of food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli infections;
" Cloning commonly results in high failure rates and defects such as intestinal blockages; diabetes; shortened tendons; deformed feet; weakened immune systems; dysfunctional hearts, brains, livers, and kidneys; respiratory distress; and circulatory problems.
With numerous unexplained and uncontrolled health problems with both the surrogate mother cow and the offspring, if it survives, and with animal cruelty and morality issues, why does FDA think we need more unhealthy food choices? They need to hear from us en masse.
Please write to Division of Docket Management HFA-305, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Include FDA docket number 2003N-0573.
