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Issue 8 December 2010


Quantum


cloning, particularly of animals. They felt the only ‘winners’ were likely to be biotech companies, livestock breeders, farmers or food retailers and they were concerned that the main motive for introducing animal cloning was a financial one. Participants were also concerned about the safety of the food and effects on the bio-diversity of agriculture.


However, despite the public’s antagonism, the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology still feel that meat and milk from cloned animals should be safe to eat.


However, currently there is insufficient evidence to say that the meat and milk from cloned animals is ‘unlikely’ to pose a food safety risk. Long-term studies into the impact of cloned foodstuffs on human health are scarce. At present we have no idea of knowing whether or not we are breeding unspotted genetic weaknesses into our food supply.


More detailed analyses of the composition of cloned products are needed before food from cloned animals are declared ‘safe’. It is clear that ‘should be’ does not cut it with the public in terms of food safety, especially when it involves mass human consumption.


But safety isn’t the only issue at hand .The European Union cites that animal welfare rather than food safety is the primary reason to ban the practice.


Despite the European Union and public opposition, the government, apparently still wants to go ahead.


In May 2010,Caroline Spelman was appointed Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Prime Minister, David Cameron.


The position may have raised a few eyebrows given it was just a mere year ago when Spelman was made to pay back £9,600 in expenses after it was discovered that she had used the taxpayers money to pay for her own children’s nanny. New questions are being raised as she appears to be placing the interests of businesses, bio-tech


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companies and farmers above that the public consumers. Coincidentally, in the 1980’s Spelman was an agricultural scientist working for the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) which supports both genetically modified food and cloning. In 1989 she set up a lobbying firm to promote the food and bio-tech industries. Just after taking up the position as Food and Farming Secretary; Spelman commented on the positive benefits that genetically modified food could bring to the market place and hinted at support for clone farming at the National Farmers Union.


Spelman’s attitude and the government’s rejection of the ban has triggered backlash from campaigners who object to cloning on the grounds of animal welfare and ethics. For example, the frequencies in animal of miscarriages, abnormalities, gigantism and organ failure have come to mean that for each healthy cloned animal there are many deformed cloned animals that are ‘created’ and then die. Opponents argue that the end does not justify the means.


The Soil Association released a press release in response to the government’s decision on cloning. They cite that in addition to the welfare issues, there are risk assessment issues: there are insufficient long-term studies into the impacts of cloned food products on human health. They also state they believe there is inadequate evidence to determine if cloning may reduce genetic diversity within agriculture and whether the use of clones may promote animal disease or contribute to the spread of disease.


The Soil Association statement makes clear that ‘the regulatory framework surrounding the use of cloned animals is clearly inadequate, if reports that cloned milk and meat have entered the UK food chain are verified. Consumers have the right to know what they are buying and the production processes and values behind their food and drink. The use of cloned farm animals fundamentally undermines the freedom of choice of farmers and consumers to avoid these animals and products, because of a lack of transparency in their regulation and traceability.’


Quantum Health 59


HEALTH


Organics in the News


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