Sen. Migden's Bill Requiring Labeling of Cloned Food Products Goes to Governor for Signature
California Political Desk
September 12, 2007
89 Percent of Americans Want Labels on Cloned Food Products.
SACRAMENTO—The State Senate has sent Senator Carole Migden’s SB 63 to the Governor for signature. SB 63 would require dairy and meat products from cloned animals that are intended for human consumption to be clearly labeled in the event that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves cloned foods for sale, a step that the FDA is widely expected to take sometime this year.
California consumers want to know what they’re eating and what they’re feeding their children,” said Migden (D-San Francisco/Marin/Sonoma Counties). “People have the right to know if food is organic, if it contains pesticides or growth-promoting hormones, or if it’s from cloned or natural-bred animals. Consumers certainly don’t want to wrestle with moral issues like cloning while they’re doing the family grocery shopping.”
Migden said SB 63 is necessary because the FDA is poised to approve adding cloned products into our food supply as early as this year. Last December the FDA approved a draft decision that meat and milk from cloned cattle, pigs and goats are “as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals”. The public comment period closed in May after receiving over 130,000 public comments (predominantly opposed). If the FDA confirms its decision as expected, food products from cloned animals can be introduced into the food chain – making the U.S.A. the first country in the world to allow products from cloned animals to be sold for consumption.
In May, Consumers Union released a national poll today showing that 89 percent of Americans want to see cloned foods labeled as such; 69 percent said that they have concerns about having cloned meat and dairy products in our food supply.
In February, the Center for Food Safety released a critique of the FDA's review of food from animal clones, demonstrating that the FDA's safety claims are based on virtually no food-safety studies.
"Animal clones should not be used for food until long-term studies show that this technology can be used safely and humanely," said Rebecca Spector, West Coast Director of the Center for Food Safety. "If these foods are then marketed, labeling should be required to ensure consumer choice for those who wish to avoid cloned food. Senator Migden’s bill will protect Californians if the FDA recklessly disregards the unknowns about cloned food."
SACRAMENTO—The State Senate has sent Senator Carole Migden’s SB 63 to the Governor for signature. SB 63 would require dairy and meat products from cloned animals that are intended for human consumption to be clearly labeled in the event that the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves cloned foods for sale, a step that the FDA is widely expected to take sometime this year.
California consumers want to know what they’re eating and what they’re feeding their children,” said Migden (D-San Francisco/Marin/Sonoma Counties). “People have the right to know if food is organic, if it contains pesticides or growth-promoting hormones, or if it’s from cloned or natural-bred animals. Consumers certainly don’t want to wrestle with moral issues like cloning while they’re doing the family grocery shopping.”
Migden said SB 63 is necessary because the FDA is poised to approve adding cloned products into our food supply as early as this year. Last December the FDA approved a draft decision that meat and milk from cloned cattle, pigs and goats are “as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals”. The public comment period closed in May after receiving over 130,000 public comments (predominantly opposed). If the FDA confirms its decision as expected, food products from cloned animals can be introduced into the food chain – making the U.S.A. the first country in the world to allow products from cloned animals to be sold for consumption.
In May, Consumers Union released a national poll today showing that 89 percent of Americans want to see cloned foods labeled as such; 69 percent said that they have concerns about having cloned meat and dairy products in our food supply.
In February, the Center for Food Safety released a critique of the FDA's review of food from animal clones, demonstrating that the FDA's safety claims are based on virtually no food-safety studies.
"Animal clones should not be used for food until long-term studies show that this technology can be used safely and humanely," said Rebecca Spector, West Coast Director of the Center for Food Safety. "If these foods are then marketed, labeling should be required to ensure consumer choice for those who wish to avoid cloned food. Senator Migden’s bill will protect Californians if the FDA recklessly disregards the unknowns about cloned food."
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