The benefits of eating a plant-based diet-avoid animal cloning

One of the top news stories in 2008 was the FDA approval of "food" from cloned animals. Normally I try only to show the health benefits of eating a diet free of animal products and generally avoid lecturing about the moral and ethical reasons to avoid meat and dairy products. This time, however, I doubt seriously that I alone in my outrage at this, which not only brings up animal cruelty issues but religious and moral issues, together with a wide range of security considerations. This is just another sad appears FDAS willingness to approve anything to line his pockets with money from the USDA pharmaceutical and lobbies. Time, FDA has demonstrated how incompetent it is enforcing proper research and testing to medicines , and in many cases been thousands and thousands of deaths the result. Rather than protecting the American public from cloned and genetically modified foods, which are prohibited or at least mark in other countries, the FDA has given factory farm industry continue to sell meat and dairy products from cloned animals to and/or possibly genetically-engineered humans.

Barbara Glenn for the biotechnology industry organization requires cloning "a breeding technique that will improve the quality and consistency in food" (1). However, says Michael Hansen, senior researcher with consumers Union that "data to support the FDA decision is based on a couple of cloned animals, and include a little information about their offspring." Hmm. imagine that. The FDA decision to approve something based on little to no scientific evidence rather than on extensive research into its safety. Michael Hansen goes on to say, "the vast majority of clones does not make it to adulthood ...There are a lot of sickly animals. " Such health problems among clones raises concerns about animal welfare and food safety (1). I am not sure I understand how sickly cloned animals will "improve quality" food, but I guess we don't have to wait long to find out. According to The Wall Street Journal, some farmers reported that the offspring of cloned animals have already entered the market place (3). But you never know whether you eat meat comes from a traditional pure-bred animals or a cloned version because the FDA found that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring would not be labelled, because it was "the same as the conventional food and do not constitute a security risk for," (2).

Despite FDAS quality assurance, some companies have declared they will not sell milk or meat from cloned animals or their offspring out of fear about the safety of these foods, and to take the lead in possible consumer backlash fueled by religious and moral opposition to cloning. A period of public comment, was completed in 2007, heard the FDA from more than 150,000 consumers who rejected the Agency's plan to introduce cloned animals in the U.S. food supply (4). Many polls show that public opposition to food from clones are extremely high. A national survey conducted in 2007 by consumers Union reported that 89% of Americans want cloned food must be labelled. In addition, 69% said that they have concerns about the safety of cloned meat and dairy products. A Gallup poll from December 2007 reported that more than 60% of Americans believe that the cloning of animals is immoral. A Pew initiative on food and biotechnology from the same time found that a similar percentage say despite the FDA approval, they will not buy milk from cloned animals (4).

There are concerns from animal advocacy groups that use of cloning can contribute to the creation of even tougher factory farm conditions than currently exists. "The tests show that the public is morally opposed to cloning. Animals suffer terribly in the cloning process, and the FDA has ignored these issues, "said Tracie Letterman, Executive Director of the American Anti-High Society (2). There is also concern that the introduction of cloned animals and progeny of clones in the American market could have economic repercussions in the global marketplace (2).

According to Joseph Mendelson, legal Director of the Center for food safety, "FDAS flawed and cavalier attitude to the cloned food and its potential impact is called a really rigorous scientific evaluation," (4). While the FDA repeatedly claimed, carried out extensive, peer reviewed studies concerning the safety of "food" from cloned animals, it turns out that the Agency's assessment only refer to three peer-reviewed food safety studies, all of which focus only on the issue of milk from cloned cows (4). The most disturbing part of the lack of objective research FDA is that studies the Agency placed was funded in part by the very biotech firms producing clones profit (4). Not one of the studies, which focuses on safety of meat from cloned cows or pigs, or milk or meat from cloned animals born or derived from, and there was absolutely no data on milk or meat from cloned goats (4).

Behavior like this is what we, as Americans, have come to expect from the FDA. What is presumed to be a consumer advocacy and safety watchdog, in reality, is unethical and time and time again shows little real concern for the safety and well-being of the American public. No label food from cloned animals imported into the U.S. market place is not only a matter of animal rights, but a question of freedom of religion, as those who are opposed to cloning for moral or religious reasons, should have the right to knowIf the foods they choose to consume is from cloned animals. This is also a question of economic stability as the decision to allow food from cloned animals and their offspring in the market could well cause problems in the global marketplace. And then there is the question of the safety of food from cloned animals, as we are still unsure of FDAS lack real and long-term research.

What can you do about this problem? Well, if you like the political path, you may want to contact your legislators and tell them that you don't support gives the meat and dairy products from cloned animals or their offspring may be sold as food. Or demand that food from cloned animals be labelled as such. I believe that the best and most decisive way to make your voice heard every day is to vote with your dollar. Choose to avoid to buy and consume animal products, you send a message. Keep in mind that those with money decisions. If you do not support what they are doing, not give them your money! Eat a plant-based diet, you can avoid inadvertently consumer "food" from cloned animals. I really have not much else to say about this, except that the malignant, sick, pus-filled, antibiotics, hormone-stuffed full, steroid-filled and now cloned "food" is, you can expect to consume if you choose to eat animal products from a typical American factory farm.

1 "FDA approves food from cloned animals", Webb, Sarah, Discover Magazine
2 "F.D.A. says food from cloned animals is safe", Martin, Andrew and Andrew Pollack, New York Times
3. "the FDA is set to approve milk, meat from clones", Weiss, Rick, to Washington Post
4. "the FDA approval of clones stalled by Passage of Milulski-Specter amendment in Farm Bill", [http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/cloning]

Erin Brennan is a raw food chef and owner of liver Bliss, a company based out of Louisville, Kentucky, which gives fresh and delicious raw and live whole foods, event catering, uncooking classes and workshops, nutritional consultations and wellness coaching.

[http://www.livingblissfoods.com]

http://erinbrennan.blogspot.com