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HBCAC Opinion Piece... Consumer’s Boo Cloned Moo

FDA’s Decision NOT to Label Cloned Foods Raises Concerns

As expected, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday, December 28, 2006 preliminary approval of milk and meat from cloned animals and their offspring to enter the human food supply. Despite public outcry, the FDA has not recommended these products be labeled if approved. Unknown to most, the success rate of live, healthy animals through the cloning process is less than 5%. Many cloned embryos die in uterus or shortly after birth and those who survive are more likely to have birth defects. Therefore, many scientists believe that clones can be inherently unhealthy, creating potentially harmful consequences to those who eat them. Recent consumer opinion polls show that over 60% of Americans think cloning animals is morally wrong, and that it would be unlikely they would purchase products from a cloned animal for consumption. What will you do? Or more important to ponder, will you have a choice?

The FDA’s labeling policy requires biotech foods to be labeled only if the product is significantly changed nutritionally or uses material from a potential allergen. In other words, if a biotech product is nutritionally the same as a non-biotech product, there is no requirement for labels. However, if a biotech product uses a gene from a peanut, which is a known potential allergen, then it must be labeled. Critics point out that such anti-consumer national guidelines which support the non-disclosure of food or cosmetic production methods, food safety, genetic engineering and pesticides are created to protect the global economic order and the emerging monopolization of the global markets by giant corporations. No surprise here as we once again point the finger at INDUSTRY.

In October 2003, the FDA released its first draft of documents saying good products from cloned animals are safe for consumption, but a lack of safety data, among other things, stopped the administration from authorizing marketing of the products. So how is it that only a mere three years later, all of these health and safety issues have been addressed and resolved? Available science shows that cloning still presents not only serious food safety risks, but also animal welfare concerns and unresolved ethical issues that all require strict oversight.

This is our opportunity, our imperative, as we are entitled to a choice, to contact our elected officials. If you want to know what you are eating, deliver your message loud and clear to defend mandatory labels regarding cloned food. As our common sense rises to the surface, ask yourself, “Do I want to serve food to my family from a cloned animal?” The safety and efficacy of this food source has not been sufficiently tested over time. Do you want to test it on your children? Make no mistake; this could have a profound effect on our health and our children’s health. If the sources of the food are clearly labeled, at least we will have the right to choose.

Take action! Tell the FDA that more long-term studies are needed on the health effects of consuming meat and milk from cloned animals. If cloned animals or their offspring are approved for human consumption, then at the very least these meat and milk products should be clearly labeled as such. Call 1-888-463-6332 or email d.commissioner@fda.hhs.gov or visit www.eatwellguide. org to find sustainable meat and dairy products near you.

The Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition seizes every opportunity to provide valuable health education and awareness information as our mission moves forward through every level of local and state government. Your sustained support of these efforts is a vital part of our success and it provides great momentum as we continue the journey towards good health and wellness for us all. Please visit our website at www.hbcac.org or call 631 547-1518 today! To learn more about our extraordinary public health advocacy campaign, Prevention Is The Cure, visit www.preventionisthecure.org.