November 3, 2003 – Food from cloned animals is getting a bit closer to supermarket shelves now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)1 American believes they are safe to eat.
The FDA is based on a study by the prestigious National Academy of Sciences (NAS), an independent body that advises Washington on science. The FDA asked the NAS to look into the matter last year.
However, it will still be a few years before the cloned food hits the market. The FDA intends to hold public consultations on the issue, since 60% of Americans say they oppose the consumption of cloned foods and the industry has agreed to comply with a multi-year moratorium on the issue.
Especially since the NAS continues to advocate caution. Although, by definition, the food obtained from a cloned animal should be as safe as that obtained from the original animal, several doubts remain, especially given the high number of abnormal births that result from cloning.
The reaction of consumer rights groups was not long in coming either. The Consumer Federation of America has notably accused the FDA of treating the matter lightly and of moving too quickly.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to CNN.com and CBSNews.com; October 31, 2003.
1. Food and Drug Administration. www.fda.gov
