FDA Gives Genetically Engineered Animals Some Play: But First, Tryouts

The biggest thing happening in transgenics right now is probably the Food and Drug Administration's newly released guide for evaluating genetically engineered animals for potential consumption by the public. Since I mentioned this above, I thought I'd explain the whole deal in a little more detail.

Rabbits, like I said before, are not the only animals hopping onto the American food and drug market. Goats with therapeutic proteins used to treat blood clots, cows with insulin in their milk, salmon which maintain a constant growth spurt throughout their lifespan, pigs with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and pigs with environmentally friendly waste are all lining up to go through the evaluation process set forth by the Food and Drug Administration on January 15th of this year. (bullet pointed version)

These regulations apply to animals developed for 6 specific reasons:

1. To produce healthier foods and to improve the production process of animal products
example: pigs with omega-3 fatty acids and pigs with more environmentally friendly waste

2. To improve the health of animals
example: cows engineered to be resistant to an udder infection known as mastitis

3. To provide substances that aid in treating human diseases
example: rabbits that produce therapeutic proteins in their milk

4. To improve human and animal interactions
example: hypo-allergic pets

5. To provide test subjects for studying human diseases
example: mice with human immune systems for the study of immune-deficiency diseases

6. To produce industrial material for consumer goods
example: goats with spider genes that enable them us to extract silk from their milk

The producers of these remarkable genetically patchwork creatures will have to prove that their brain child will do no harm in their intended roles - as with anything approved by the FDA. The animals will be put through regulations as if they were drugs. While transgenic animals could be tested as food, the process for testing drugs is considered more rigorous and requires more testing than does the process for food. Drugs must also receive an official approval from the FDA while food achieves a status as "generally considered safe."

What these producers will not have to do is label their products as genetically engineered. This is perhaps the aspect most odious to those against the development and use of genetically modified organisms and one that irks even the most optimistic consumer.

The argument that the companies that produce these new foods will want to promote the healthful and environmentally friendly aspects of their products on their labels. But with no obligations to do so, it is conceivable that complete transparency will not be the case. Genetically engineered foods could find their way into the diets of unknowing consumers.

As much as some of us advocate genetically engineered animals for their health and environmental benefits, it is somewhat troubling that those who don't agree might not be able to make a choice to exclude it from their diets.