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News > January 2007 > Cloned
to the Bone
 Cloned
to the Bone
by Greg Harman, Education & Advocacy Coordinator
Over many thousands of years humans have bred
domestic animals to produce food for their families. During
this time they have selected the best of these animals to
breed in particular traits and breed out others. But it wasn't
until recent decades — since agriculture was largely
co-opted by Big Business and transformed into an industrial-grade
concern — that the full force of the new animal sciences
was unleashed.
Many animals raised for meat now grow up twice
as fast as their ancestors, so they can be slaughtered more
quickly. Bones subjected to this bottom-line mentality frequently
buckle under the weight of hormone-ravaged bodies.
The cramped quarters of the massive Concentrated
Animal Feedlot Operations (CAFO) spread disease so readily
among cattle that regular antibiotic doses are added indiscriminately
to the animals' regimen. One recent study found that the "lagoons"
at CAFOs are chockfull of antibiotic-resistant bacteria —
the scourge of U.S. hospitals and patients.
Now comes cloning.
Last month, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration
announced that milk and meat from cloned animals is safe for
human consumption, or "safe as the food we eat everyday,"
according to Stephen F. Sundlof, director of FDA's Center
for Veterinary Medicine.
With deep concerns already festering across
the American landscape about the safety and ethics involved
in our food production machine, it is no surprise that the
idea of cloned animals is not one supported by public opinion.
An industry poll two months ago found 58 percent
of Americans surveyed would be unlikely to buy meat or milk
from animal clones even if FDA found such products to be safe.
Last month, the Pew Initiative found 64 percent of those surveyed
were "uncomfortable" with animal cloning, while
36 percent were "unsure" about cloned food safety.
 Whether
or not the food is deemed safe, the process is not safe for
the animals, says the Humane Society of the United States.
According to their recent report, Welfare Issues with Genetic
Engineering and Cloning of Farmed Animals, cloned animals
often suffer premature death, intestinal blockage, diabetes,
shortened tendons, deformed feet, weak immune systems, and
dysfunctional hearts.
While an increasing number of people express
concern about the suffering of animals in the industry food
matrix, not once in the FDA's 678-page risk assessment of
cloning is the welfare of cloned animals — or their
surrogate mothers — mentioned. "An objective look
at the way in which animals are manipulated in order to turn
them into food more quickly and thus increase industry profits
can bring one to tears," says Lynn Cuny, founder and
Executive Director of Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
in Kendalia. "These industries have demonstrated over
and over again that they will consider animal suffering only
when compelled to do so by public opinion or the law. Whether
food created in this manner will make one physically sick
or not, it surely leads to moral sickness in our society."
The Center for Food Safety has reported that
cloning of farmed animals increases dependence on hormones
and antibiotics. Meanwhile, the National Academy of Sciences
has warned that commercialization of cloned livestock for
food production could increase the incidence of food-borne
illnesses, such as E. coli infections.
While companies like Austin-based ViaGen Inc.,
which so far has only cloned 250 animals, are poised to exploit
a favorable FDA verdict, industry giants like the International
Dairy Foods Association, representing major dairies and food
makers including Kraft and Nestle, oppose allowing cloned
animals into the market.
Ultimately, whether or not consumers want
to purchase cloned animal products, they may not have a choice
after the final FDA ruling comes down. Once the door is open
it will be next to impossible to identify which food came
from where.
Just like with the irradiated and genetically-modified
products that have hit shelves in recent years, there will
be no labels involved. In essence, you're on your own.
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