Clone on the Range

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With the public evidently concerned about cloned food, vocal criticisms of the FDA's report followed quickly. In late March, the non-profit Center for Food Safety (CFS) challenged the FDA's position, noting that there will be no labeling for food derived from clones and that cloning can result in the deaths of cows, high percentages of failed pregnancies and on-going health problems for the clone. While CFS also warns about the loss of genetic differences that may make more animals vulnerable to disease, Greg Jaffe, director of Center for Science in the Public Interest's biotechnology project, notes that since one bull may father a thousand calves, "we are currently really reducing the biodiversity of livestock." Jaffe suggests that cloning may even increase the biodiversity of cattle if genes that fight against bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("mad cow" disease) and other ailments can be spread to vulnerable animals.

In the pork industry, on the other hand, cloning may not even end up as much of an issue. "Cloning is extremely expensive compared to natural mating," says Mark Boggess, Ph.D., director of animal science at the National Pork Board, adding, "If you have a boar that you might want to clone, through our breeding programs that boar already has sons that are as good or better." Pigs have such a high reproductive rate over such a short interval, Boggess says the incentive is much less than in cattle.

Even with organic foods, there is a chance that cloning may be allowed, since other reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization are accepted by the USDA's National Organic Program. Cloning isn't explicitly forbidden under the USDA's organic standards and an advisory panel for the Department of Agriculture will consider the issue this spring.

For now, if you wish to comment on the FDA's report, you may do so until May 3 at www.accessdata.fda.gov (search for docket number 2003N-0573). Or you can mail comments to:

Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration,
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852.

Comments should include the docket number 2003N-0573.

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