EU Report Says Cloned Food Probably Safe
January 12, 2008(AP) -- Meat and milk from cloned animals is probably safe for humans, the European Union's food safety agency said in a preliminary report released Friday. The report, by the European Food Safety Authority, seems likely to fuel new debate over whether the EU should allow cloned animals to enter the food chain.
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The main conclusions are (in reference to MON 863 maize (corn or Zea mays):
The statistical analysis made by the authors of the paper did not take into account certain important statistical considerations. The assumptions underlying the statistical methodology employed by the authors led to misleading results.
EFSA considers that the paper does not present a sound scientific justification in order to question the safety of MON 863 maize.
Observed statistically significant differences reported by Monsanto, Séralini et al., and EFSA, were considered not to be biologically relevant. In the absence of any indications that the observed differences are indicative of adverse effects, the GMO Panel does not consider that this paper raises new issues with respect to the safety of MON 863 maize. Therefore, the GMO Panel sees no reason to revise its previous Opinions that the MON 863 maize would not have an adverse effect in the context of its proposed use.
Prior to this most recent work, MON 863 maize has been subject to a comprehensive risk assessment by EFSA and by other authorities which did not identify any adverse effects on human and animal health or the environment. The 90-day rat study analysed by this paper is one element of the comprehensive risk assessment of MON863 maize. In addition to the original Opinion in April 2004, this study has been reviewed again twice since then, prior to this recent work. From: http://www.efsa.e...5358.htm
[QUOTE]The EU's Food Safety Authority, which is based in Italy, stated, "Based on current knowledge, there is no expectation that clones or their progeny would introduce any new food safety risks compared with conventionally bred animals." Nina Papadoulaki, spokeswoman for EU Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, announced that the commission would seek further advice from an ethics group specializing in science and new technologies, which includes 15 scientists, philosophers, theologians and lawyers.
That group is scheduled to issue its own report on the "ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply" on Jan. 16.[/QUOTE] From this article.
I'll be waiting for that one as well. I think it is from the general population's over-reaction to fears from old "B" class science fiction movies! You know, the ones with the "mad" scientists wreaking havoc from "crazy" experiments gone awry. It's well past the time for valid, realistic assessments of the many benefits to come from well-conducted research into this new technology. This WILL BE the new "green" (and animal) revolution that should take world hunger out of the equation. Have you hugged a scientist today? ;)