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Cloning for consumption? Updated: 12/30/2006 10:35 AM By: Joleene Des Rosiers Cows are not what they used to be. Yes, they reproduce to put more milk and meat on our tables, but technology has played a role for longer than you may think. And if the Food and Drug Administration's recent assessment is formally approved next year, you could be buying cloned beef instead of the real thing. But experts say don't be alarmed -- it's their offspring that will make your meal. "The original animal that's going to be cloned, if approved by FDA, will not technically be used for milk or dairy products or for beef consumption. Only the progeny of those cloned animals are being considered for use in the food supply," said Bruce Krupke, Executive Vice President of the New York State Dairy Foods Association. If the idea seems far fetched, Carol Gillis of the New York Beef Industry says it's not. As a matter of fact, it's been an idea years in the making -- 20 years in the making. And it's not the first technological advancement seen by these herds. Gillis said, "Currently, live stock breeders use artificial insemination, which has been around since I was a youngster or before. And we also use embryo transfer." "We feel the science is safe, and without science we can't proceed in get new ways to better our food supply. But we also need to hear from our consumers," Krupke added. This is something that is only in the beginning stages. Stakeholders and consumers still need to weigh in. ------------- *Cloning for consumption?* It may not be long before we see cloned beef as what's for dinner. The FDA approved an initial draft, saying cloning for consumption is a sound procedure. News 10 Now's Joleene Des Rosiers has more on a technology that experts also deem safe.
