Organic Valley Blasts F.D.A. Support for Animal Cloning; Warns People are not Guinea Pigs

In Yahoo News.

Today's statement of support for animal cloning by the F.D.A. was swiftly condemned by Organic Valley, one of the nation's foremost organic brands and the only one to be 100 percent farmer owned.

"By allowing foods from cloned animals into the food system without proof of their long-term effects on human, animal and environmental health, the F.D.A. is not protecting the consumer. The F.D.A. is furthering their support of the abhorrent attempt by corporate interests to control the genes of our citizenry," warned George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley.

"American families should not be guinea pigs for corporate greed! Contrary to what the F.D.A. says, there is no level of 'acceptable risk' when it comes to putting unproven science on the table for dinner," said Siemon, in reference to the F.D.A.'s pro-cloning rationale.

Siemon noted that once man-made species are introduced into the environment there is no "calling them back." He explained: "Whether it's genetically engineered crops cross pollinating with wild weeds, genetically modified salmon breeding with wild fish, or future concerns with clone mammals, the risks to the balance in ecosystems worldwide are great."

Consumers Need Animal Cloning Warning Labels

According to the F.D.A., products from cloned animals, like products that have been genetically engineered, do not need to carry a warning label on the package.

"Citizens deserve the right to know what is in their food and how it has been produced," said Siemon. "At least if the product is labeled as being from cloned animals, consumers can have a choice."

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Organic Valley Blasts F.D.A. Support for Animal Cloning; Warns People are not Guinea Pigs
Friday October 31, 7:46 am ET

LAFARGE, Wisc., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's statement of support for animal cloning by the F.D.A. was swiftly condemned by Organic Valley, one of the nation's foremost organic brands and the only one to be 100 percent farmer owned.

"By allowing foods from cloned animals into the food system without proof of their long-term effects on human, animal and environmental health, the F.D.A. is not protecting the consumer. The F.D.A. is furthering their support of the abhorrent attempt by corporate interests to control the genes of our citizenry," warned George Siemon, CEO of Organic Valley.

"American families should not be guinea pigs for corporate greed! Contrary to what the F.D.A. says, there is no level of 'acceptable risk' when it comes to putting unproven science on the table for dinner," said Siemon, in reference to the F.D.A.'s pro-cloning rationale.

Siemon noted that once man-made species are introduced into the environment there is no "calling them back." He explained: "Whether it's genetically engineered crops cross pollinating with wild weeds, genetically modified salmon breeding with wild fish, or future concerns with clone mammals, the risks to the balance in ecosystems worldwide are great."

Consumers Need Animal Cloning Warning Labels

According to the F.D.A., products from cloned animals, like products that have been genetically engineered, do not need to carry a warning label on the package.

"Citizens deserve the right to know what is in their food and how it has been produced," said Siemon. "At least if the product is labeled as being from cloned animals, consumers can have a choice."

The only way consumers will be able to be sure that the foods they purchase have been made without genetically modified ingredients or cloned animals is by buying organic. The stringent standards for organic forbid such practices.

"The U.S. needs to use the precautionary principle followed in Europe where prevention is the goal. We need to work with Nature, not try to fool her," said Siemon.

Siemon urged consumers to contact their Congressional representatives to ask them to demand that the F.D.A. rescind its support for animal cloning. The F.D.A. is scheduled to hold a public meeting on animal cloning during the first week in November.

About the Organic Valley Cooperative

Founded in 1988, Organic Valley today is made up of 577 farms in 17 states. Enjoying record success, the cooperative in the last year added 15,000 acres, 3,810 cows and more than 121 farmers into the organic system. Its farmer pay price was nearly double that paid to conventional farmers and the co-op realized its best sales ever, $125 million.

Stewards of the earth who use nature as their teachers, Organic Valley farmers produce more than 130 delicious organic foods, including milk, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, produce, juice, and meat. They're available in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food-co-ops nationwide. For further information contact Organic Valley, 507 West Main Street, LaFarge WI 54639, tel. (608) 625-2602, or visit www.organicvalley.com.