FDA: Cloned food need not be labeled

[NoStateofMind]

FDA: Cloned Animals Safe For Consumption

I personally wouldn't eat that crap if it was labeled. They say you can't taste the difference, but to me it wouldn't matter. I still think a label should be mandatory to keep track of related illnesses and diseases. What do you think?

 

[bamacre]

I think the FDA is corrupt, and this was done for economic reasons rather than safety.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
FDA: Cloned Animals Safe For Consumption

I personally wouldn't eat that crap if it was labeled. They say you can't taste the difference, but to me it wouldn't matter. I still think a label should be mandatory to keep track of related illnesses and diseases. What do you think?

Agreed.

Plus, I heard the FDA test was a "look see" test. Meaning if the animal appeared to look normal it was OK. No real testing was done.

I don't want any cloned crap. I don't want to be a "beta" tester for the FDA.

Fern

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: Fern

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
FDA: Cloned Animals Safe For Consumption

I personally wouldn't eat that crap if it was labeled. They say you can't taste the difference, but to me it wouldn't matter. I still think a label should be mandatory to keep track of related illnesses and diseases. What do you think?

Agreed.

Plus, I heard the FDA test was a "look see" test. Meaning if the animal appeared to look normal it was OK. No real testing was done.

I don't want any cloned crap. I don't want to be a "beta" tester for the FDA.

Fern

The news says differently. The FDA fed cloned meat to animals and watched them under close scrutiny for months. They also tested the meat to ensure it had the same nutrients and proteins.

 

[Moonbeam]

The people must not be allowed to chose their food on the basis of hysteria and bad science. They have no right and only screw everything up. You God Damned stupid bastards are going to stay in a flock.

 

[Brainonska511]

There are a lot of things wrong with the meat industry in the U.S.; as long as the USDA remains an organization without teeth or enough inspectors to review meat processing plants, cloning of animals and distributing them in the food supply remains as one of my lesser concerns.

They should have limits on the number of clones you can make of one animal though, as if the first generation animal ends up being susceptible to some new disease, it could rapidly spread through the cloned animals.

 

[Rainsford]

Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

 

[glenn1]

Well, for those who have concerned about "cloned food," I'm sure that this will inspire another cottage industry selling food labled "clone-free ____" based on the organic food model.

 

[Nocturnal]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

Why do the cloned animals die a lot sooner than their counterparts? Disease? Will that disease eventually transfer over if we consume their meat?

There are many problems here. If you want to blindly eat something such as a cloned cow, go for it but I think there needs to be some type of label indicating that the meat that we are paying our hard earned money for is cloned or organic.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

Why do the cloned animals die a lot sooner than their counterparts? Disease? Will that disease eventually transfer over if we consume their meat?

There are many problems here. If you want to blindly eat something such as a cloned cow, go for it but I think there needs to be some type of label indicating that the meat that we are paying our hard earned money for is cloned or organic.

Nah. Telomere Length. W-e don't really know why cloned animals have varying telomere lengths, but its not a disease or anything.

I personally think that eating cloned anials is fine. Its basically the exact same as a normal cow.

Though, I think they should probably label it, just to appease the people who believe that cloning is the sign of the apocolypse.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

Why do the cloned animals die a lot sooner than their counterparts? Disease? Will that disease eventually transfer over if we consume their meat?

That's exactly my point, we don't really KNOW anything...but that doesn't stop people from speculating madly. Well, scientists know things, but since when does anyone listen to them?[/quote]

There are many problems here. If you want to blindly eat something such as a cloned cow, go for it but I think there needs to be some type of label indicating that the meat that we are paying our hard earned money for is cloned or organic.

Yeah, those aren't the only two choices. In fact, most "organic" meat isn't any more natural than cloned meat. If you want to eat organic only, that's fine, but that's why organic IS usually labeled...it's an entire product line for most food companies now, precisely because they are people who don't want cloned or anti-biotic infested food or whatever. But I see no reason to make it a legal requirement that cloned food say "cloned". That seems designed to kill the market because some people don't want to eat it.

 

[Brainonska511]

Originally posted by: tenshodo13
Nah. Telomere Length. W-e don't really know why cloned animals have varying telomere lengths, but its not a disease or anything.

If I remember what was said in my bio class last quarter, cloned animals have the telomere lengths of the parent animal at the time of DNA extraction; meaning that the telomere lengths at the end of the DNA strands is going to be shorter than those of a newborn animal (that isn't cloned). Hence, clones die off sooner because they essentially have DNA that is as old as the parent animal (so the short telomere repeats of the clone lead to cuts in critical genes sooner than a pure-bread newborn, which would have the appropriate length repeats).

 

[sandorski]

As long as there are categories where Cloned or GM Foods are not included(Organic for eg, although I'm not sure if "Organic" actually eliminates those), then there doesn't necessarily need to be a "GM" or "Clone" label on Food IMO. The only concerns would be: 1) that those claiming to be "Clone/GM Free" are telling the Truth and 2) that they are Tested/Monitored to ensure that they are telling the Truth. The downside is that "Organic" or other exclusionary claims will continue to be an excuse to keep prices high or maybe even increase Prices.

 

[Vic]

There are reasons to be concerned about animal cloning/GM, but food safety is not one of them.

 

[trenchfoot]

i second the notion that any government regulatory agency that can affect the profit margins of big industry have long ago been corrupted and transformed into nothing more than public relations and propaganda arms of said industries.

example: right here in hawaii we have the college of agriculture at the university of hawaii pumping graduates into those businesses that experiment with genetically modified foods.

these are the same people that end up populating those municipal regulatory agencies that oversee these types of businesses.

these are the very same people, who, while supposedly representing the interests of the public, literally leap to the defense of those industries at the slightest hint of any negative publicity directed their way.

the foxes are guarding the henhouses and i'm supposed to trust them?

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Vic
There are reasons to be concerned about animal cloning/GM, but food safety is not one of them.

Who are you, Agatha Christie? Enough with the mystery, what are these "concerns" we should have with animal cloning and GM? I mean, these animals are basically raised for me to eat...I'm having a hard time figuring out a concern I should have beyond food safety.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

Why do the cloned animals die a lot sooner than their counterparts? Disease? Will that disease eventually transfer over if we consume their meat?

There are many problems here. If you want to blindly eat something such as a cloned cow, go for it but I think there needs to be some type of label indicating that the meat that we are paying our hard earned money for is cloned or organic.

They died early because genetically they were as old has the donor, it had nothing to do with disease. They have since determined the mechanism and have figured out how to reset the genetic clock. It is called research and development. Would you not eat a cow that had an identical twin? It is an genetic clone, only it was cloned naturally. Too many people are quick to say cloning is bad based on old outdated data.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: tweaker2
i second the notion that any government regulatory agency that can affect the profit margins of big industry have long ago been corrupted and transformed into nothing more than public relations and propaganda arms of said industries.

example: right here in hawaii we have the college of agriculture at the university of hawaii pumping graduates into those businesses that experiment with genetically modified foods.

these are the same people that end up populating those municipal regulatory agencies that oversee these types of businesses.

these are the very same people, who, while supposedly representing the interests of the public, literally leap to the defense of those industries at the slightest hint of any negative publicity directed their way.

the foxes are guarding the henhouses and i'm supposed to trust them?

Can't really comment on that, except that Regulators/Producers need to be adversaries. Otherwise Regulation just doesn't work. The idea of "Self-Regulation" is a sham. If the Idealogues think it's so great, why do we need Police/Prisons, surely Criminals are best for Regulating Crime too?

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

Why do the cloned animals die a lot sooner than their counterparts? Disease? Will that disease eventually transfer over if we consume their meat?

There are many problems here. If you want to blindly eat something such as a cloned cow, go for it but I think there needs to be some type of label indicating that the meat that we are paying our hard earned money for is cloned or organic.

They died early because genetically they were as old has the donor, it had nothing to do with disease. They have since determined the mechanism and have figured out how to reset the genetic clock. It is called research and development. Would you not eat a cow that had an identical twin? It is an genetic clone, only it was cloned naturally. Too many people are quick to say cloning is bad based on old outdated data.

Well, it's likely that Cloning has no Ill Effects, but I always get the heebee geebies when things like this get rushed onto the Market with little time to flesh out longterm effects and a comforting pat on the back of Consumers with a "there's nothing to worry about". It has been done before with tragic consequences.

This also comes at a time when there are a number of unexplained Health Issues that have been increasing the last 10-20 years. Amongst those: Peanut Allergies and Asthma. Those may have causes totally unrelated to Food or Food additives, etc, but forgive us Civilians if we want some longterm Research and some ability to choose what we eat.

 

[pinktank]

fda also make non-growth hormone dairy farmers to label their products to say there is no difference. The us is one of the only countries in the world that allows the hormones

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Vic
There are reasons to be concerned about animal cloning/GM, but food safety is not one of them.

Who are you, Agatha Christie? Enough with the mystery, what are these "concerns" we should have with animal cloning and GM? I mean, these animals are basically raised for me to eat...I'm having a hard time figuring out a concern I should have beyond food safety.

Sorry, I was referring to that "tinkering with nature" thing. Only a tiny minority of plant and animal species are actually suitable for human consumption, and it would be a shame if we accidentally wiped one out while experimenting with things we don't yet understand. That's all.

 

[Uhtrinity]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: Uhtrinity

Originally posted by: Nocturnal

Originally posted by: Rainsford
Other than the typical FUD flying around, is there any particular REASON we should be more wary of cloned food? Cloning has been one of the most misunderstood aspects of biology for a long time now, I can't help but think the "cloned food problem" is just more underinformed hysteria than anything that the FDA needs to deal with.

Why do the cloned animals die a lot sooner than their counterparts? Disease? Will that disease eventually transfer over if we consume their meat?

There are many problems here. If you want to blindly eat something such as a cloned cow, go for it but I think there needs to be some type of label indicating that the meat that we are paying our hard earned money for is cloned or organic.

They died early because genetically they were as old has the donor, it had nothing to do with disease. They have since determined the mechanism and have figured out how to reset the genetic clock. It is called research and development. Would you not eat a cow that had an identical twin? It is an genetic clone, only it was cloned naturally. Too many people are quick to say cloning is bad based on old outdated data.

Well, it's likely that Cloning has no Ill Effects, but I always get the heebee geebies when things like this get rushed onto the Market with little time to flesh out longterm effects and a comforting pat on the back of Consumers with a "there's nothing to worry about". It has been done before with tragic consequences.

This also comes at a time when there are a number of unexplained Health Issues that have been increasing the last 10-20 years. Amongst those: Peanut Allergies and Asthma. Those may have causes totally unrelated to Food or Food additives, etc, but forgive us Civilians if we want some longterm Research and some ability to choose what we eat.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for regulation, I just get tired of the fear mongering and misconceptions with technologies like cloning. Look at some of the bad food stuffs that come out of China.

As far as the increases in allergies, etc., it is my belief it is a combination of all the food additives and reverse Darwinism. Essentially we are being saturated with so many different chemicals that our bodies aren't naturally used too. For a long time we have also had the power to save people that would have died naturally and as a result bad genes stay in the gene pool. I'm not saying that saving these people is a bad thing, but we are screwing with our evolution and Darwinism.

That all said I see no problems with the meat produced through cloning short of the use of growth hormones. I also foresee and support a day when cloning can be used in humans for reproductive purposes. I might sound a little long winded on the subject, but that is only because I had to write a paper last term about the Ethics of Cloning.

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: Vic
There are reasons to be concerned about animal cloning/GM, but food safety is not one of them.

Who are you, Agatha Christie? Enough with the mystery, what are these "concerns" we should have with animal cloning and GM? I mean, these animals are basically raised for me to eat...I'm having a hard time figuring out a concern I should have beyond food safety.

Sorry, I was referring to that "tinkering with nature" thing. Only a tiny minority of plant and animal species are actually suitable for human consumption, and it would be a shame if we accidentally wiped one out while experimenting with things we don't yet understand. That's all.

Ah, I see what you're saying. Of course there are dangers, but that's true in any area of scientific discovery. Managing risks is part of the process, but I don't think it's a good idea to ignore potential areas of research and development because there are possible issues we need to watch out for. Cloning and genetic engineering have the potential to bring huge benefits to humanity. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful, but I DO think it means it's worth taking the risk.

 

[Jaskalas]

Safe? if there is no apparent side effect. Long term effects are for the general population to discover and suffer with.

 

[ranmaniac]

Screw it, just break out the Soylent Green and get it over with!