Ag department gives thumbs up for food from cloned animals

SAN FRANCISCO -- Juicier chops, thicker steaks and other food produced by cloned animals could be in grocery stores by next year. Atlantic salmon fattened with genes spliced from other fish, though, remain years away from the American dinner table.

A long-awaited report to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released this week made an important distinction between cloned animals and transgenic beasts -- those altered with genes from other species: Cloned animals are probably safe to raise and eat while genetically engineered ones may or may not be.

The distinction means that dozens of biotechnology companies attempting to create all sorts of transgenic animals are still years away from bringing their products to market.

The report was good news, however, for the companies that simply clone animals without tinkering with their genes.

At least two U.S. companies are now cloning prized livestock that are the healthiest, fattest and fastest growing of their herds. By cloning the animals with the best genes, the companies aim to help beef, pork and egg producers trim costs and bolster profits.

"This will revolutionize the cattle industry," proclaimed Ron Gillespie of Cyagra Inc. of Worcester, Mass., which clones cows and pigs.

Cloning's critics

Still, cloning has met with protest from animal rights groups, who complain the new technology constitutes cruelty to animals because only a small percentage of cloning attempts lead to live births.

Some studies have shown that cloned animals suffer more than naturally bred animals from arthritis, obesity and other health problems. Also, biologists say there's another danger in the lack of genetic variety -- certain diseases could wipe out entire herds of genetic duplicates.

Gillespie also says he's fighting a public relations battle: His direct customers -- ranchers -- fear a backlash from consumers who view the technology in the same light as genetic engineering and human cloning.

"We're being painted with a broad brush," he said. He hopes the report will help sway public perception.

The FDA said it probably will allow cloned animal cuisine on the market -- but with some oversight.

"We feel the cloned animals are going to be easy to deal with from a regulatory standpoint," said Stephen Sundlof, director of the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicines.