Cloned Livestock Products Safe to Eat, FDA Says
A Food and Drug Administration releases draft risk assessment, proposed risk management plan and a draft guidance for industry regarding sale of products from cloned animals.
Compiled by staff
Published: Dec 28, 2006
Products from cloned pigs, cows and goats are safe for human consumption, according to documents releases by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today. The agency released three documents - a draft risk assessment, proposed risk management guidelines and draft guidelines for industry.
The documents will lead to the sale of meat and milk from cloned livestock. The FDA proposes in the report that cloned animal products should be sold without additional safeguards.
"Based on FDA's analysis of hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and other studies on the health and food composition of clones and their offspring, the draft risk assessment has determined that meat and milk from clones and their offspring are as safe as food we eat every day," says Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine. "Cloning poses no unique risks to animal health when compared to other assisted reproductive technologies currently in use in U.S. agriculture."
The Washington-based International Dairy Foods Association urges caution, saying that consumers may not want to buy food from clones, and that "there's no indication that farmers are rushing to use this technology."
Seven senators from both parties have urged the FDA to continue to seek public input on cloned animal products.
The report is not final, but rather intended for public comment over a 90 day period.
FDA is seeking comments from the public on the three documents for the next 90 days. To submit electronic comments on the three documents, visit www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/commentdocket.cfm. Written comments may be sent to: Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD, 20852. Comments must be received by Apr. 2, 2007 and should include the docket number 2003N-0573.
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Tagged: FDA, Food and Drug Administration, animal health
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