August 3, 2010

 

Milk from cloned cow's offspring suspected in British market

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating claims that milk from the offspring of cloned cows is being sold in Britain.

 

It follows assertions by an anonymous British farmer who said he was using milk from a cow bred from a clone as part of his daily production.

 

The milk producer, insisted on anonymity, also claimed he was selling embryos from the same cow to breeders in Canada.

 

The FSA said foods produced from cloned animals came under EU regulations.

 

Any meat, milk or eggs from cloned animals would be subject to EU approval before it could be legally marketed.

 

The suggestion that British consumers may be unknowingly drinking milk from the offspring of cloned animals has created a media storm.

 

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) said it was totally opposed to cloning for food production on animal welfare and ethical grounds.

 

But supporters of cloning disagree.

 

Cloning has many benefits, according to the American livestock cloning company Cyagra.

 

For instance, cloning can help farmers keep up with demand for semen, embryos and offspring, it says. It can also help eliminate diseases and genetic disorders.

 

"Herd uniformity can bring you real production and management efficiencies," it adds.