Peyton Posey

After seven years of debate by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency has decided NOT to place labels on meat or animal products that have been genetically altered through hormone, gene or drug injections.

The practice of adding to or splicing the DNA of animals with the DNA or genes from other animals has become a widely accepted practice. Researchers hope this procedure will produce an improved, more nutritious specimen. But many question the price you could pay with your health.

According to recent news reports, animals in the testing stages include:

• Salmon that grow more quickly and more efficiently.
• Goats that produce drugs in their milk or blood.
• Chickens that produce drugs in the whites of their eggs.
• Cows that cannot contract mad cow disease.
• Pigs with organs that can be transplanted into humans without rejection.
• Hypoallergenic dogs and cats.

The FDA said that no genetically altered animal products are currently on the market at this time. They said foods would undergo strict testing before being approved as safe for human consumption. But some researchers say they’re missing the point.

“We require labeling of juices whether they come from concentrate or if they’re fresh-squeezed or whether milk is homogenized or not, so along those lines, we think all genetically engineered animals present in the food chain should be labeled as such,” said Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union, in a news report.

Many other advocacy and consumer groups agree with Hansen, and the FDA will continue to review public comments through Nov. 18 before finalizing their decision.