EXCLUSIVE - Top U.S. Dairy Bans Milk From Clones

The top U.S. dairy company, Dean Foods, has adopted a policy statment banning milk from cloned cows, a copy obtained by Chews Wise shows.

This is a potentially significant step, since the Food and Drug Administration in December released its recommendation to allow food from cloned animals. The FDA has an open comment period on this issue that runs through April 2.

Dean Foods, with more than $10 billion in sales, is by far the largest dairy company in the nation. So even if the FDA allows cloning to go ahead, this policy may put the brakes on the development of clones, at least in the dairy industry.

The company also owns Horizon Organic, the top organic milk company. Other organic milk companies, such as Stonyfield Farms, Organic Valley, and Straus Family Creamery, have pledged not to take milk from any cloned cows. Non-profit organizations, such as the Center for Food Safety, have also been waging a campaign against cloning.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, the Maryland Democrat, has introduced legislation to require labeling on packages of cloned foods: "This product is from a cloned animal or its progeny.''

Dean Foods "Position Statement: Milk From Cloned Cows" reads:

Based on the desire of our customers and consumers, Dean Foods will not accept milk from cows that have been cloned. If the FDA does approve the sale of milk from cloned cows, we will work with our dairy farmers to implement protocols to ensure that the milk they supply to Dean Foods does not come from cloned cows.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to conclude that milk from cloned cows is safe. Our decision not to accept this milk is based on meeting our consumers’ expectations. We see no consumer benefit from this technology.

Numerous surveys have shown that Americans are not interested in buying dairy products that contain milk from cloned cows and Dean Foods is responding to the needs of our consumers.

Comments

[Maisie Greenawalt]

I agree with Dean Dairy's assessment that consumers are not interested in milk from cloned animals. At Bon Appetit Management Company, we pride ourselves on being able to tell the customers of our 400 corporate and university cafes the provenance of the food we serve. The idea that products from cloned animals could be approved to enter our food system without any labeling is quite frightening.

[Marc]

On Feb. 13, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) introduced a measure [H.R. 992] that would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make labels compulsory for all meat and dairy products that come from cloned animals or their progeny.

The full press release is in the news section at DeLauro's website: http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/

Neither DeLauro's bill nor Mikulski's have any cosponsors yet.

[Tara C.]

This is well written with good sources. I'm especially glad to see the quote from Senator Mikulski. That makes me wonder only a bit about political points versus speaking for her district and/ or her own family. I think she is likely doing both at the moment. I like the idea of good politics also meaning doing the right thing for a change.

Was the blockquoted text above all of Dean Dairy's statement?

Also, thank you for leaving a link on AH. ^_^

[Samuel Fromartz]

Yes, the blockquoted text was the entire document ... and nice job over at AH

[James Berry]

Nice work, Sam. We followed up at http://www.culinate.com/read/sift/Udder+surrender%3F

Keep up the good reporting!