http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10951108
Here's a quote from another recent BBC story:
Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said consumers "deserve to know the origin of all foods they purchase" and he was "concerned to learn that the offspring of these animals have been reared in the UK for food production purposes without any authorisation from the Food Standards Agency".
This seems like hubris on part the scientists who advocate this for food production and just shortsighted greed for the cattle producers who adopt this practice. Nature has this wonderful thing called biodiversity, not just between species but within them. There is no such thing as a perfect cow. Genetic specialization can at first seem like an advantage but ultimately becomes a liability. Have you ever heard about the theory that the restricted diet of early African slaves has lead to the prevalence of hypertension in their descendants, modern African-Americans. Through a process of attrition the survivors became super body salt savers. What was then an asset has now become a disadvantage. (See more about super salt savers at: http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi618.htm)
Thank goodness Whole Foods Grocery has denied sale of these products in their stores. The risks seem to clearly outweigh the gains. And the public does not want this product! The FDA has approved this meat and dairy for sale in the US (more than two years ago!) - but why do we need to take the chance and introduce yet another risk factor into our food production? The advocates of this change in our food production don't want to be required to label their product - they know the majority of consumers would avoid a food product with the word "clone" attached to it!
Read more about it:
- Washington Post online article from December 2006: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/28/AR2006122800552.html
- Reuters new story video from January 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5eUkNynPPc
- MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16372490/
- http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jan/046
- A Biotech Advocacy Group: http://www.bio.org/foodag/facts.asp#15
- Whole Foods Grocery position statement: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/cloned-meat.php
Some organizations working to oppose cloned food:
