FDA Set to Approve Genetically Engineered Animals
- From: pautrey2 <pautrey2@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:04:38 -0800 (PST)
NaturalNews.com
Originally published November 11 2008
FDA Set to Approve Genetically Engineered Animals
by Susan Thixton (see all articles by this author)
(NaturalNews) Genetically Engineered grains have been in existence for
several years, amidst many concerns from various organizations and
individuals. Now, the FDA is set to approve Genetically Engineered
Animals to be introduced into the food chain.
Ever since the beginning of Genetically Engineered grains, controversy
has surrounded their safety. The Sierra Club initiated a national
petition against Monsanto's genetically engineered wheat.
http://www.sierraclub.org/biotech/amber...
The Organic Consumers organization is equally against genetically
engineered grains stating "Campaign activists are also demanding that
corporations and governments heed the concerns of consumers, North and
South, and remove genetically engineered corn and other foods and
crops from the market, unless they can be proven to be safe for human
health and the environment. Recently hundreds of US consumers have
reported allergic reactions to the FDA after eating Kraft and other
brand name products likely containing genetically engineered corn."
http://www.organicconsumers.org/corn/in...
The Organic Consumers website also brings into light a potential cover-
up by Monsanto not noticed by the FDA. A German court ordered Monsanto
to make public a controversial 90 day study on rats that reported the
animals fed genetically modified (GM) corn developed "allergies
(increased basophils), in response to infections, toxins and various
diseases including cancer (increased lymphocytes and white blood
cells), and in the presence of anemia (decreased reticulocyte count)
and blood pressure problems (decreased kidney weights). There were
also increased blood sugar levels, kidney inflammation, liver and
kidney lesions, and other changes."
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Monsant...
Now, the FDA is set to approve genetically engineered animals into the
human food chain. From the FDA website: "Genetic engineering generally
refers to the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques to introduce
new characteristics or traits into an organism. When scientists splice
together pieces of DNA and introduce a spliced DNA segment into an
organism to give the organism new properties, it's called rDNA
technology. The spliced piece of DNA is called the rDNA construct. A
GE animal is one that contains an rDNA construct intended to give the
animal new characteristics or traits."
The FDA plans to classify GE animals as a 'drug' until food products
from these animals are recognized as safe. Currently the FDA website
is accepting input from organizations and individuals on GE animals.
To learn more and post your comments: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008...
The FDA tells consumers: "GE animals currently being developed can be
divided into six broad classes based on the intended purpose of the
genetic modification: (1) to enhance food quality or agronomic traits
(e.g., pigs with less environmentally deleterious wastes, faster
growing fish); (2) to improve animal health (e.g., disease
resistance); (3) to produce products intended for human therapeutic
use (e.g., pharmaceutical products or tissues for transplantation;
these GE animals are sometimes referred to as "biopharm" animals); (4)
to enrich or enhance the animals' interactions with humans (e.g., hypo-
allergenic pets); (5) to develop animal models for human diseases
(e.g., pigs as models for cardiovascular diseases); and (6) to produce
industrial or consumer products (e.g., fibers for multiple uses)."
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/Guidance/guide187.htm
The same FDA document acknowledges the risks involved with GE animals.
"A primary goal during the investigational phase of development of the
GE animal is to ensure that edible products from the GE animals do not
enter the food or feed supply without prior FDA authorization. Edible
products include, but are not limited to milk, honey, eggs, muscle
tissue, as well as other tissues such as liver, kidney, skin, and fat.
We encourage you to provide a disposition plan for all classes of
investigational animals and animal products. We recommend that all
surplus investigational animals and their biological products be
disposed of by incineration, burial, or composting, and that
appropriate records be kept of animal identification and disposition.
In some special cases, alternative disposition may be appropriate
provided that our safety concerns are met (see Section III.C). 21 CFR
511.1 (b)(5)."
GE animals have probably already entered the food supply; the pet food
supply. Please notice the wording of the following sentence quoted
above 'We recommend that all surplus investigational animals and their
biological products be disposed of by incineration, burial, or
composting, and that appropriate records be kept of animal
identification and disposition.' The words 'We recommend' should make
pet owners very concerned. Since currently, despite Federal law that
opposes this, the FDA allows 4-D animals (dead, dying, diseased, and
disabled) and euthanized animals including expired laboratory test
animals to be processed into pet food. There is little doubt GE test
animals, including GE test animals 'gone bad', are as well processed
into pet food. Pet owners can only guess at how long and how many GE
animals have already been rendered becoming pet food ingredients.
Pet food should not be the dumping ground for waste materials of
science or the processing of human food. Equally as disturbing is the
FDA's blind eye to Federal regulations prohibiting this. Millions of
pet owners unknowingly purchase dog food, cat food, or pet treats
every single day that could contain a genetically engineered animal
experiment gone bad, genetically modified grains, dead, diseased,
dying or disabled animals, and animals that have completed their
research use, including the test drugs within the animals; all labeled
as 'premium', 'choice', or 'healthy' pet foods.
Please consider contacting your Representatives in Congress asking
them to insist the FDA abide by Federal law and properly monitor the
ingredients in pet food. Visit http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/pages/...
to read more about letters to Congress for safe pet food. Call the
manufacturer of every pet food and treat that your pet consumers and
ask if the meat ingredients are human grade/quality. Anything less
than human grade meats could be from animal sources you would never
consider feeding your pet.
When final approval of GE animals is set (it is sure to be approved
just as GM grains were), no consumer will know if they are purchasing
or consuming a GE burger, chicken wings, or steak. Just as right now
consumers have no idea if a food or food ingredient is from a GM
grain. At the very least, every U.S. consumer deserves to know if
their food, or their pet's food, is a science experiment. Please visit
the FDA website and post your comments to GE animals.
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008...
Wishing you and your pet the best,
Susan Thixton
Buzz up!vote nowBoost this article on YahooBuzz! Click "BuzzUp!"
About the author
Susan Thixton has an international pet people following providing dog
and cat lovers a trusted source for pet food and pet food ingredient
information. She's been called courageous, perseverant, even "the
Caped Crusader for Pets" for her 16 year study of pet food. Susan
Thixton is the author of hundreds of pet industry articles and the
2006 released book Truth About Pet Food (currently being updated for a
second edition). She developed and publishes the pet product consumer
magazine Petsumer Report and is a frequent speaker and radio guest all
over the U.S. and Canada with more than 70 appearances in the last 2
years.
If you are looking for straight forward pet food information that can
have an almost immediate impact on your pet's health - subscribe to
the free newsletter, and subscribe to Petsumer Report to see reviews
of close to 700 dog and cat foods and treats (adding 40+ each month).
Susan Thixton's 'truth' will help you find a safer, healthier dog or
cat food that could add years to your pet's life. http://www.TruthAboutPetFood.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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