Animal cloning for food supply

Bánáti, D. (2009) Animal cloning for food supply. Acta Alimentaria, 38 (1). pp. 117-132. ISSN 0139-3006

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Abstract

Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) involves replacing an egg’s nucleus with the nucleus of an adult cell (or that derived from an embryo or foetus) to be cloned, and then activating the egg’s further development without fertilisation.Provided that unhealthy clones would be detected at veterinary inspection and quality controls and thus be prevented from entering the food chain, the currently available data indicate that food products from clones of cattle and pigs and their progeny are as safe as food products of livestock derived by conventional breeding. None of the available studies have identified any differences outside the normal variability in the composition of meat (cattle and swine) and milk (cattle) between clones or clone progeny, and their comparators. After years of study and analysis it has been concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine and goats and the offspring of clones from species traditionally consumed as food, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. Doubts have been expressed whether the current situation regarding the welfare and health of animal clones is ethically justified by the existing arguments in support of cloning for food.

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