The folks at the Cattle Network take a crack at why those who argue for the labeling of products from cloned animals are misguided:
What industry cannot allow is an argument over the precautionary principle: That all foods are suspect until long-term, comprehensive longitudinal studies can demonstrate beyond doubt that a product is absolutely safe. To diffuse such tactics, it needs to be noted that the precautionary principle is its own Catch-22.
While I admit that there are asking some questions regarding the safety and viability of food products from cloned animals, it’s only one of several that should be addressed.
The absolute first point I want to bring up is that there are many people who are ethically opposed to the idea of cloned animals. Whether it’s due to their religion or due to their distrust of those corporations promoting animal cloning, it doesn’t matter. All of them have the right to opt out of the cloned animal marketplace if they wish to. The only way that they can exercise that right is if the products are labeled accordingly.
Talking about the nutritional qualities, safety, and the effects of breeding cloned animals are important questions that will be answered in due time. But let them be answered by the consumers who have no ethical quandaries surrounding the cloned animals.
