Food & Water Watch

Cloning

Cloning Action Day
The FDA recently announced plans to approve cloned animals into the food supply. In February 2007, Food & Water Watch joined forces with Ben & Jerry's to raise awareness about cloning issues.

In 1998, cows were successfully cloned for the first time in Japan. Approximately 300 beef cows, 150 dairy cows, and 200 pigs have been cloned in the United States. A Texas–based company began cloning champion horses in March 2006, which can sell for as much as $150,000 per horse. And pet cats can be cloned by a private company for $32,000.

Pushing ahead with cloning animals for food, researchers have cloned pigs whose meat contains higher levels of omega–3 fatty acids by blending a gene from earthworms with pig’s genetic material. No one has tasted the transgenic piglets’ meat, yet. Nevertheless, scientists hope to clone chickens and cows with high levels of omeegs–3s in the future.

Even as the FDA is poised to approve cloned animals for human consumption, there are concerns about the process’ impact on animal health and the insufficient research on eating meat or drinking milk from cloned animals.

Take Action

The FDA has approved meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring for human consumption, despite widespread concerns. Help stop this controversial food before it reaches your plate.