Clones Safe to Eat Says FDA

The Washington Post is reporting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's 968-page report will declare that meat and milk from cloned cows, pigs and goats are as safe to eat as foods from conventionally bred animals. According to the Post:

Scientists … looked at nutrient levels in meat and milk from a few dozen cattle and pig clones and hundreds of their progeny, and compared them with values from conventional animals. They measured vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B6 and B12 as well as niacin, pantothenic acid, calcium, iron, phosphorous, zinc, 12 kinds of fatty acids, cholesterol, fat, protein, amino acids and carbohydrates including lactose.

For almost every measure, the values were virtually the same. The few that differed were still within the range considered normal.

Separately, the agency looked at studies in which milk and meat from clones were fed to animals for up to 3 1/2 months. There was no evidence of health effects, allergic reactions or behavioral changes.

Let's not forget that we have been eating clones for generations. Lots of fruits are clones, including grapes, bananas, and some varieties of apples.

The FDA may allow food produers to label their products as deriving from non-clones. Since at least some meats will derive from elite meat-producing animals, I personally will seek out cloned steaks when they become available.

The International Herald Tribune is reporting that European Food Safety Agency will approve meat and milk from cloned animals as safe to eat, too. This is good news for science-based decision-making, given that Europeans have often been ridiculously risk-averse when it comes to the food products derived from modern biotechnology.

Whole Post article here.