In
Wake of FDA Cloning Decision, California Bill Could Restore
Americans' Right To Choose In The Marketplace
Bill Would Require Labels on All Foods from Cloned
Animals and Their Offspring
San
Francisco, CA. January 24, 2008 - Dissatisfied with
the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's)
controversial announcement that milk and meat from cloned animals
are safe for sale to the public, today California State Senator
Carol Migden introduced a bill requiring all food products from
cloned animals and their offspring to display clear and prominent
labeling. The Center for Food Safety (CFS)
and Consumers Union (CU), co-sponsors of the
bill, applaud Senator Migden for protecting the public's right
to know how their food is produced by drafting this important
piece of food safety legislation.
"The federal agency charged with protecting our food supply
has failed us," said Rebecca Spector, West Coast Director
of the Center for Food Safety. "Consumers have the right
to know that the meat and milk they feed their children is safe.
Since FDA refuses to wait for science to show what's really
happening with cloned animals, it is now up to individual states
to protect consumers and their families. The Senator's labeling
bill will protect Californians through labeling, which restores
consumer confidence and choice."
Public opinion clearly and consistently calls for food labeling.
Most recently, a 2007 national survey conducted by Consumers
Union found that 89 percent of Americans want to see cloned
foods labeled. Sixty-nine percent said that they have concerns
about cloned meat and dairy products in the food supply.
"The FDA's recent action disregards the will of the public
who overwhelmingly want labels on foods from cloned animals,"
said Elisa Odabashian, director of Consumers Union's West Coast
office. "Senator Migden's labeling bill will be a critical
step in providing consumers with the information they are demanding
about these foods."
Last year Senator Migden authored a similar bill (SB 63) that
was passed by the entire California legislature before being
vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. "It is our hope that
the legislature will stand behind this bill. Its passage is
needed now more than ever since the FDA has cleared the way
for food from cloned animals to enter the market unlabeled,"
stated Elisa Odabashian. "We also hope that when this bill
arrives on the Governor's desk he will show his commitment to
consumer choice and sign the bill."
For more information on FDA's flawed risk assessment, see CFS's
report "Not Ready for Prime Time,"
http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/AnimalCloning_PR3_21_07.cfm
For information on federal bills:
The U.S. Senate "Cloned Food Labeling
Act," S.414, is available at: http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bill.xc?billnum=S.414&congress=110
The Center for Food Safety (http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org)
is a national, non-profit, membership organization that works
to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use
of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic
and other forms of sustainable agriculture.
Consumers Union (http://www.consumersunion.org),
the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, is an expert, independent,
nonprofit organization, whose mission is to work for a fair,
just, and safe marketplace for all consumers
