Genetically engineered meat may be served under FDA plan

— -- After more than seven years of discussion, the Food and Drug Administration proposed regulations Thursday that would allow the commercial use of genetically engineered animals.

Such animals are genetically altered — either their genes are changed or genes from another animal are added — for a specific purpose. The FDA states that such animals either produce drugs; serve as models for human disease; produce industrial or consumer products, such as fiber; or have improved food-use qualities, such as being more nutritious.

The only genetically engineered creature available for sale in the USA is an aquarium fish that glows in the dark. Examples currently in the laboratory stage include:

• Salmon that grow more quickly and efficiently.

• Goats that produce drugs in their milk or blood.

• Chickens that produce drugs in the whites of eggs.

• Cows that cannot get the brain-wasting mad cow disease.

• Pigs with organs that can be transplanted into humans without rejection.

• Hypoallergenic dogs and cats.

The proposed regulations would require FDA review of each application to ensure that any food sold for human consumption would be safe and that the animal's health would not be damaged in the process.

Although the potential is huge, the number of groups working on this research is small, says Jaydee Hanson from the Center for Food Safety. "You're talking maybe five or so companies and 10 or so universities."

The FDA will take public comments until Nov. 18 before finalizing the regulations.

Genetically engineered plants, although opposed by such groups as Greenpeace because of consumer safety concerns, are widely used in U.S. agriculture. Genetically engineered microorganisms are often used to make drugs.

Engineered animals have been much more controversial, and the term "Frankenstein animals" has been bandied about by the European news media and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, among others. These regulations have been in the works since the last days of the Clinton administration.