FDA's OK May Spark 'Clone-Free' Labels

AP News ^ | 28 Dec 2006 | LIBBY QUAID

[mysterio]

Additionally, would produce, such as oranges, which essentially have been inbred and come from a single graft be considered "cloned?" Because most produce is as "cloned" as anything that's out there.

[ASA Vet]

There is no difference between the clone based product and it's original in quality. A lower cost of production may allow a lower retail price thereby gaining market share.
But like I said in a previous post, it's more likely they'll raise the price on the product labeled "not from cloned," in order to take advantage of the hype.

[mysterio]

from neolibertarian.net

Scare tactics

The scare tactics of the environmental movements have played an important role in forming a mental picture of genetically modified crops as "Frankenfoods". One of the best illustrations of this is how Greenpeace Nordic has a tomato with a human embryo inside it as their “logo” for their anti-GMO agenda. This picture clearly demonstrates the strategy to rely on people’s lack of knowledge in order to attack GM foods. Most people have very little knowledge about genetic modifications and can thus be convinced that there is something terribly “wrong” with GM foods.

This logo might be distasteful and of course very provoking for pregnant women (not to mention women who have recently had a miscarriage), but it is also very unscientific. Human genes are not inserted into tomatoes and even if they were, there would be absolutely nothing “human” whatsoever about the outcome. A prerequisite for human life is at the very least one human cell. Genes cannot be considered as life, since they consist of large but chemically uncomplicated chains of acids.

It is true, however, that scientists can transfer some genes from an organism into another. However, genes have been transferred between organisms billions upon billions of times in the course of evolution. It is also worth mentioning that traditional breeding of plants involves massive mixing of genes and also frequently induction of random mutations.

[mysterio]

And the public's inability to correctly interpret the sticker is exactly why this shouldn't be done.

[ASA Vet]

Most of "the public" doesn't read labels other than the one on top which says how much the item costs. We've cried wolf with so many labels now that they mean nothing to the average consumer. It'll make the mandatory controllers of everything happy though.

[period end of story]

I dont care what Ben and Jerry put on their Ice Cream. You wont see me eating liberal ice cream.

Ditto.

If I had a choice between anything from B&J, and cloned ice cream, I think I'd settle for yogurt.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Just say no -- to frankenfood!

[mysterio]

Just say no -- to frankenfood!

Why?

[KyHammer]

"And the public's inability to correctly interpret the sticker is exactly why this shouldn't be done."

Withholding information from the public is not a conservative idea, particularly because they're to stupid to understand it. I do not do a lot of the food shopping at our house but food quality has become a real issue and the more information I get the better I like it. If there's nothing to hide don't hide it.

[abercrombie_guy_38]

The same reason you say no to gay marriage: it's "not natural."

I'll be staying away from cloned meat, cloned babies and cloned women, thanks.

[mysterio]

Mandating government solutions to nonproblems is not conservative.

[Tanniker Smith]

All in all, I'd think I'd prefer hormone-free cloned meat over clone-free growth-hormone meat.

I'm hoping (not that I know this for a fact) that the availability of cloned animals would reduce the need for growth hormones, which I think are getting into our kids.

TS

[mysterio]

Will you be avoiding antibiotics, insulin, and dairy products as well?

[mysterio]

These horrifyingly dangerous foods contain some genetically engineered ingredients :

* Frito-Lay Fritos Corn Chips
* Bravos Tortilla Chips
* Kellogg's Corn Flakes
* General Mills Total Corn Flakes Cereal
* Post Blueberry Morning Cereal
* Heinz 2 Baby Cereal
* Enfamil ProSobee Soy Formula
* Similac Isomil Soy Formula
* Nestle Carnation Alsoy Infant Formula
* Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
* Nabisco Snackwell's Granola Bars
* Ball Park Franks
* Duncan Hines Cake Mix
* Quick Loaf Bread Mix
* Ultra Slim Fast
* Quaker Yellow Corn Meal
* Light Life Gimme Lean
* Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix
* Alpo Dry Pet Food
* Gardenburger
* Boca Burger Chef Max's Favorite
* Morning Star Farms Better'n Burgers
* Green Giant Harvest Burgers (now called Morningstar Farms)
* McDonald's McVeggie Burgers
* Ovaltine Malt Powdered Beverage Mix
* Betty Crocker Bac-Os Bacon Flavor Bits
* Old El Paso Taco Shells
* Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

Oh dear. We're certainly all doomed.

[abercrombie_guy_38]

Thanks for avoiding the main part of my argument.

So do you support this cloning on scientific, business or environmental grounds? Each has a poor track record when it comes to doing what's best for the country and humans in general. You have my blessing to be the first guinea pig in this science experiment.

[KyHammer]

If the consumer sees it as a problem its a problem. If they try to hide the fact that the product has been cloned and that fact is not disclosed they will be seen as hiding something. Its just not good business.

[mysterio]

Since you are concerned about the horribly mutated genetically engineered foods, here is a nearly complete list :

shopping guide

Incredible. The market produced a list without legislation.

[mysterio]

Apparently, no one is hiding anything. See list in above post.

[KyHammer]

Your missing my point. I'm not saying cloning is dangerous, I don't have an opinion as yet. While I don't see why anyone would want to go to the expense of cloning animals I don't see why they would want to hide the fact that they are doing it.

[org.whodat]

Neither of us want to eat cloned meat

Now what is your reasoning for that statement.