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Nicole Weston stelt op slashfood.com de vraag of een biologisch dier ook een gekloond dier kan zijn. Ja dus, dat kan in beginsel in de VS en het kan hier ook.

Wat is er eigenlijk op tegen? Immers, biologisch betekent in essentie dat er geen synthetische bestrijdingsmiddelen en bergen antibiotica zijn gebruikt. Ben je tegen 'gekloond', dan betekent dat je niet wilt dat je eten uit een onnatuurlijke variatie van genen is ontstaan.

Hieronder de tekst van Weston. Hier de vraag: vinden wij dat in Nederland iets biologisch zou mogen heten als het gekloond is? Het is tenslotte biologisch en het is niet eens gen-manipulatie te noemen. Meat and milk from cloned animals have been deemed safe by the FDA and won't make it to market for some time yet, which is a relief to many consumers because the USDA has also determined that there needs to be no label distinguishing between cloned meat and naturally-bred meat and some would like to see that policy change before the products are on store shelves. Another issue that needs definition is whether or not clones can be organic. Many feel that as long as the clones are "raised organically," living the same lifestyle and receiving the same food as conventionally organic animals, they should receive the designation.
Others, all supporters of the organic movement, range from strongly against the issue to rabidly against it. The terms "organic" and "cloned" just don't belong together, they say. The current guidelines state that genetically modified foods cannot be consider organic. By implication, an animal made in a lab - even if it isn't "genetically modified" - should also be excluded. "Surely, these opponents conclude, no animal is more engineered than a clone."

For the moment, it seems that the current organic rules would apply and that it would not be difficult for cloned foods to qualify as such, but ultimately, the decision lies in the hands of the USDA, which could be considered by an advisory panel as early as spring. After this decision, we may see a revision of the definition of "organic" itself.


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