Genetically Engineered Farm Animals: Regulators Rush to Keep Consumers in the Dark

[Islander]

Pat Thomas
June 21, 2019

If the biotech industry has its way, the meat, eggs and milk on your plate could soon come from genetically engineered farm animals—and without laws requiring these products to be labeled, you’ll never know.
Just a few years ago the idea of genetically engineered farm animals seemed like science fiction to most consumers. But it’s a sign of how powerful the industry has become, and how quickly the science is advancing, that we’ve reached the stage where regulators are having to draft new regulations to deal with the influx of new applications.
Behind the scenes there have been squabbles over not just what the regulations will say, but which government department should take the lead.

Keep reading: https://www.organicconsumers.org/blo...content=OB+628

[Mr. Wizard]

When the FDA approved genetically engineered (GE) salmon, this was the beginning of genetically engineered animals. I knew it wouldn't take long before bio-engineered farm animals surfaced. This genie is out of the bottle. The best we can hope for are strong, definitive laws requiring that all bio-engineered animal products be clearly labeled as such, as was done for GE salmon.

[Islander]

Once more, I emphasize "buy local"! Know your family farmer.

[Mr. Wizard]

Truth is the FDA has been regulating "genetically engineered (GE) farm animals" for over a decade. Several farm animals have been reengineered to help develop pharmaceuticals. For ex., GE goats have been used to produce a drug called ATryn, which prevents blood clotting in humans. The milk from GE rabbits have been used to produce a drug called Ruconest, which prevents angioedema, or swelling under the skin. GE chickens have been used to produce a drug called Kunama, which treats a deficiency that keeps the body from breaking down fatty molecules inside the cell. And the list is too long to mention all the things going on with GE cows. So, GE farm animals are not new.