On Tuesday, FDA released a report that finds meat and milk from cloned animals is for the most part, safe to eat. However may be consumers will determine how widely it used. Very important factor is consumer acceptance, even if USDA and FDA issue a statement, the final arbiter, whether clone meat will be allowed in the market.
Cloned meat may be more accepting by consumers in US than overseas like Europe. One example was the opposition in Europe to genetically modified crops to protect against weeds or insects.
USDA wants to wait before serving cloned meat and milk, and the firms that producing clones have been asked to hold off bringing them to food supply. It may be years before cloning will be widely used.
The first cloning sheep – Dolly – was born 1996. The goals of clone is to clone prize animals to breed conventionally to create herds. From desired animal taken a single cell and cultivated in to an embryo in lab. Embryo implanted into womb of live mother of same species then the herds birth naturally. The cost of a cloned animal up to USD 17,500.
For some firms clones is not big issues, because it is very expensive and there are other less expensive ways of producing livestock. Cloning merely copies an animal it does not improve them. The meat industry seeking ways to improve animals, which can be done via artificial insemination and embryo transfers that less expensive than cloning.
Reference: The Jakarta Post, Thursday, January 17, 2008.
Tags: popular science blog
