After what has been deemed suitable testing, the FDA is ready to to give the green light and allow meat and milk from cloned animals into the food supply. Two separate studies found no nutritional differences between the meat and milk from cloned animals and animals bred conventionally. Since the FDA can not address ethical or moral concerns, they appear to have no reason to say no.

But ethical and moral reasons are just one issue that opponents are raising. Citing that cloning poses significant risk to mother and newborn, as well as food safety issues, the Center for Food Animal Safety filed a petition this week seeking regulation of cloned animals. I think this is an important point, because if FDA approval goes forward as planned, products from these animals won't be labeled and consumers will have no way of knowing if they are eating them or not.

Speaking of consumers, a survey found that 60% of Americans were opposed to using cloned animals for food. That's probably why the International Dairy Foods Association is one of the biggest opponents of the issue. Concerned the wholesome image of milk and other dairy products will be tarnished, the association represents some of the biggest names in dairy -- Kraft, Dannon, and General Mills among them.Count me in that 60%. As I see agriculture moving farther and farther away from traditional farming methods, it makes me nervous. I don't want to eat meat and milk from cloned animals. Further more, I want to be informed if I am. But as the article points out, the chances are great that some of these cloned animals have already infiltrated the food supply and may already be on our dinner plates. Just one more reason to buy organic, I say.

What do you think? Proponents claim the animals are just "twins" born a generation apart. Opponents say that the theoretical food safety risks are too high. Would you mind eating meat and milk from cloned animals, or does the idea send you running for the nearest vegan cookbook?