No, cloned food concerns are far from being overstated. There has not been a single comprehensive study that conclusively proves beyond doubt that it is safe to have cloned food. Just like genetically modified food, the safety of cloned food is just as ambiguous.

Under these circumstances, cloning for the purpose of human or animal consumption should not be encouraged. I would like to go as far as saying that unless conclusively proven to be safe for consumption there should be a blanket man on cloned food.

We simply cannot risk yet another potential health hazard when we already have more than we are capable of dealing with.

The argument of cheap production of food through cloning is nothing but marketing propaganda as of now by vested interests just like GM produce companies.

Yeah! Me too won’t mind eating it, especially, when we’re already applying genetic engineering successfully in other fields, why not food and cloned food. In order to dilute the issue, what the government and food agencies can do is simply put labels on cloned food in order to differentiate it from the rest, allowing consumers to make the choice. What’s the fuss?

Hype or whatever, but still, the concerns remain…they can’t be put at bay. FDA simply rushed with its decision haphazardly on flawed statements. Now the question is who should we believe. Lot more still remains incomplete for FDA to put consumers’ all doubts off, but ASAP.

The US government has ruled that products from cloned animals are as safe as their natural counterparts but the ruling has been criticised by some activists and politicians, who remain unconvinced enough research been carried out. But I am all for it…Two cloneburgers and a coke, please!

Care kills the cat, this is true to the thousands of people who are ignorant of this cloning technique, and particularly the food from these cloned ones is believed to be unsafe to eat. This is merely a misconception and over hyped issue and I firmly believe that after FDA’s ruling it should be now shrugged off.

There you’ll go. So you thought that all that big Mac and noodles you gobble up are safe? Coldiretti, the farmers’ group here in Italy has rightly said that cloned foods can pose an unacceptable risk. We’re already facing health hazards in the shape of diseased animals, bird flu and what not? And here comes a whole new breed of cloned species for the bid. Now, let’s talk about FDA research. Who is pushing this research – obviously, food companies who want to make a lot of easy money? We want positive approval and solid guarantee before cloned meat and milk hit the shelves. The concerns are justified and should help bring out the truth.

Add some tomato sauce to your cloneburgers Andrew. I bet if any scientist ever says he has evidence that a person can live inside the belly of a great white shark for three days, Bush and his Bible-thumping cronies will back that scientist all the way.

I have nothing against cloned animals but given the cost of producing a clone why would companies want to produce them anyway?

Why stop at labels for cloning. Why not put labels about fertilizer. What effect does fertilizer have on our food? Cloned food will taste better because the best tasting animals are cloned.

I strongly believe that cloned food demand more research. We have the right to know what exactly we are eating and feeding our families. With reports of early death and diseased breeds of cloned animals, I would never favor it. We have witnessed a number of cases where government and research agency approved products have created havoc. It’s a serious issue. Harbingers of cloned food are first trying to sell the benefits, rather they should first try to sell conviction, and benefits will follow.

Cloning is just another reproductive technology, just like artificial insemination. Yep, the concerns are overstated because of polling agencies showing more people with discomfort with the whole concept, and that too because of lack of awareness. And why would researchers misinform consumers? Why would food giants kill their mammoth businesses by offering something unhealthy? We all should have been enjoying cloned food until now and solve the food crisis but it seems we’ve to work on constructive marketing more than furling new technology on people with old mindset.

I propose we call these scientific hacks "Voodoo Scientists"

Hey you all didn’t tell me whether abnormalities in animal would affect the composition of milk and meat, if yes to what extent? Does the nutritional value degrade with these abnormalities, as cloning is an uncertain science with impending unknown effects you know!

People don't seem to realise that a clone is just the same as a twin. You wouldn't mind eating two burgers from two twin cows would you?

Nope! no hype at all… neither it can be, the FDA decision is intended to clear the stock of some food companies that is of cloned animals and perhaps injurious to health, here doubts come in fourth gear… and Andrew if you’ll hear this you will surly cancel your order for cloneburgers and a coke.

Let’s not talk about labels – it won’t dilute the truth, instead it’d scare. What about labeling everything? Tomorrow you’d demand having separate shops for cloned food. Just like you people have the right to reject it, others too who want to have pure and more nutritious cloned meat should be respected. I’d not label you anti-tech. Actually, the fear and hype is just because of the world ‘cloned’. All kinds of fruits are grown with massive use of pesticides; we never bother about labels defining that.

See, you all guys on the other side of the pole, if you believe in science then trust what FDA says because after four years’ efforts, they have come with this ruling. If you are that much concerned gentleman why do you smoke or drink, they are not even good for the health.

The very technique, the clone I mean, is not well authentic and thus the FDA decision can’t be trusted in one go. The decision is based on the scanty data that is given after research on milk only, how about the meat? In the absence of data for the research, the cloned food companies are gushing market with cloned food. In such a situation, doubts come. So there is a need to make a patent and quality measures for it are to be set, as long as FDA want to keep the trust of customer.

Matteo - You said all in one sentence - "So you thought that all that big Mac and noodles you gobble up are safe?"

@Reek:

The the FDA really have 100% credibility when it comes to giving the green signal or banning certain food or drugs? In the past, the FDA approved potentially dangerous drugs only to ban them later. That was when the companies manufacturing the drugs found newer markets in the Third World like India. First, they dangled FDA approvals in front of other governments for market share.

I agree the FDA has done a generally good job so far and for the welfare of American people. But going by it’s history, we cannot rule out sharp practices succumbing to industrial lobbyists.

@Andrew:

Sounds fun right? When you are such a huge fan of junk food, anything that comes cheaper to hog fast will be naturally welcome for you. Your comment gives away the fact that health is something that has last priority in your life, taste buds comes first. Then one day you will need a bypass surgery and then the government will pay for your medical bills out of your fellow citizens’ tax money. What a shame!

itz great if clone meat is safe. i can clone n eat myself n know how my heart liver balls taste. no probs.

In a world where 70 percent of the population is considered lactose intolerant, human organs are set on sale and life in itself has become a commodity, the last thing one wants is their food to be tampered with. Where is the need? I lose the point. Being clearly stated that the cost of cloning is manifold more than natural mating, the argument that foodtuff will be cheaper is baseless. Why not consider easing taxes on export & import of foodstuff than to go as far as genetically modify a natural crop? This is a perfect example of science taking things too far. The pork industry needs no cloning, pigs have such a high reproductive rate. The risk of encephalopathy (”mad cow” disease) clearly rejects cloning as an option. Is the question really about cloned food being safe or unsafe or is it a simple opinion of the extent to which human beings just won’t let nature be?

Somya -

The predominant animal in the read meat industry is beef and white meat is chicken. Maybe the pork industry doesn't need cloning because they produce rapidly. What about the main animal in question? A cow produces one calf every one year. Cloning would rapidly produce animals in batches. The whole programme can be made systematic and timely because artificial insemination is not always 100% successful. Cloning would also reduce the chances of getting low quality meat. The same is applicable for the diary industry too. Cloning is the best possible method to get highest quality food.

No one is going to do cloning commercially unless they are 100% sure that whatever they are creating is unsafe. Why stop technology for alleviation of poverty? Cloning can mean less than 1/4 of the price of milk and meat. THe radicals cried against stem cell reasearch and so did scientifically challenged people. We have given science the respect it devserves before so why not now? Where is religion and Christ here in between? What has your Chist to do with it?? I simply don't understand why such a fuss. Give sciemce a chance please. Let it prove it is good.

(Jared and only anti-christ bastards think of sick things like cloning............. X)

TO SITE ADMIN: PLEASE install formatting buttons of comments (WYSIWYG). Will help to highlight better.

If it solves world food shortage and can feed somalia then its good. First hunger then safety.

Hi Isabella, I drive a Ferrari? Fourth gear is fast, but not fast enough. A notch higher perhaps? :-P Where in Vienna are you? Going there in Feb 12. Can we meet? I mean you and me and not your clone and me. ;-)

Only time will tell whether it is a good idea or a bad idea. Whosoever passes this like FDA in US are not sure themselves, but there is money to be made. So make hay while the sun shines.

Cloning will mean more animals. More animals mean more meat + more milk + more leather = lesser food costs + industrial development.