FDA Says Meat From Cattle, Swine, Clones Safe For Consumption

By Sarah Watson, Livestock Editor
Thursday, January 24, 2008 12:30 PM CST

Last week the FDA released documents deeming meat and milk from cattle, swine and goats safe for human consumption.

Since 2001, producers have voluntarily kept cloned animals out of the food chain until the FDA had completed a risk assessment.

The agency is not requiring labeling or any other additional measures for food from cattle, swine, and goat clones, or their offspring because food derived from these sources is no different from food derived from conventionally bred animals. Should a producer express a desire for voluntary labeling (e.g., "this product is clone-free"), it will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with statutory requirements that labeling be truthful and not misleading.

Because clones would be used for breeding, they would not be expected to enter the food supply in any significant number. Instead, their sexually reproduced offspring would be used for producing meat and milk for the marketplace. At this time, the agency continues to recommend that food from clones of species other than cattle, swine and goat (e.g., sheep) not be introduced into the food supply.

The science-based conclusions agree with those of the National Academy of Sciences, released in a 2002 report. The assessment was peer-reviewed by a group of independent scientific experts in cloning and animal health. They found the methods FDA used to evaluate the data were adequate and agreed with the conclusions set out in the document.

The risk assessment presents an overview of assisted reproductive technologies widely used in animal agriculture, the extensive scientific information available on the health of animal clones and their sexually reproduced offspring, and an assessment of whether food from clones or their sexually reproduced offspring could pose food consumption risks different from the risks posed by food from conventionally bred animals. These conclusions were first presented in draft documents over a year ago. Since then, the agency has updated the risk assessment with data that became available, as well as taking into account comments from the public comment period.

In the guidance, FDA does not recommend any special measures relating to the use of products from cattle, swine, or goat clones as human food or animal feed. Because insufficient information was available on clones from other species, e.g., sheep clones, to make a decision on the food consumption risks, the guidance recommends that food products from clones of other species continue to be excluded from the human food supply. The guidance states that food products from the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed for food are suitable to enter the food and feed supply.

Not everyone agrees

Not everyone agrees with the FDA. The Center for Food Safety (CFS) condemned FDA’s decision calling it an “irresponsible determination” that milk and meat from cloned animals are safe for sale to the public.

The FDA is not going to implement any special labeling or tracking system n which the CFS does not agree with.

"The FDA's bullheaded action today disregards the will of the public and the Senate - and opens a literal Pandora's Box," said Andrew Kimbrell, CFS executive director. "FDA based their decision on an incomplete and flawed review that relies on studies supplied by cloning companies that want to force cloning technology on American consumers. FDA's action has placed the interests of a handful of biotech firms above those of the public they are charged with protecting."

Smithfield says no

Smithfield Foods, Inc., reiterated earlier statements that the company is not planning to produce meat products from cloned animals.

The science involved in cloning animals is relatively new. As thoughtful leaders in our industry, we will continue to monitor further scientific research on this technology, they say.

Smithfield says they have been very diligent and measured in making decisions that affect there customers and reputation.

In a statement released last week, Smithfield stated, “We are committed to maintaining our focus on the development and improvement of our meat products through careful selective breeding and genetic research.”

Use caution

National Meat Association supports the rational, measured approach that the government has taken in investigating the safety of cloning technology. After literally years of detailed study and analysis, the Food and Drug Administration has concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine, and goats are safe to eat, as is the meat and milk from the offspring.

This agency determination concludes one of the most extensive food safety reviews in FDA’s history. It complements equally important international assessments that reached the same conclusion, and USDA has announced it will join with technology providers, producers, processors, retailers and domestic and international customers to facilitate the marketing of meat and milk from clones.

However, the number of cloned animals in the U.S. is miniscule compared to the size of the total livestock population. Clones are to be used as breeding animals to maximize genetic potential, not for consumption. Consumers are unlikely to encounter meat from cloned animals in the grocery store or elsewhere.

“National Meat Association recognizes that there is consumer concern surrounding the issue of cloning and has supported an effort to produce a supply chain management system that allows tracking of cloned livestock,” said Barry Carpenter, NMA CEO & executive director. “We continue to work with our members, international trading partners, technology companies and the media to assure the circulation of accurate information on this advancing technology.”

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