I’m absolutely agog at the stupidity of a few so called ‘farmers’ having anything to do with cloned animals but especially cattle. Reports of over 100 cloned cows on British farms.

The beef and milk industries suffered immensely with BSE and consumer boycotts of their products. It cost taxpayers huge amounts to fix this problem and has taken years to get these industries back to relative normality. And then some cowboys decide that thy want to try cloned animals!

We know that cloned animals have significantly more birth defects and shorter lives. On basic animal care it’s plainly wrong to choose a path that involves such avoidable animal suffering. But importantly the biology of why this happens is not understood. So if we don’t understand the cause of these defects how can we understand if its safe for humans to consume.

The Food Standard Agency has issued statements that no evidence such cloned food is dangerous. How incredibly complacent.

So although I eat very little beef I feel I have no option but to stop until the Food Standard Agency is clear no other rogue farmers have decided to break the law and basic animal husbandry ethics. I’ll also be drastically reducing my cheese and milk consumption.

IF people want to make cloned food fine. But the labelling should make it extremely clear and transparent and any use of it should be clear in restuarants. I’ll then choose to shop and eat elsewhere. Until then the farming and foos indistries can anticipate a consumer back-lash unti lthey take this issue seriously.