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Ask McDonald’s to take a Stand Against Cloning Cruelty

Since the FDA approved cloned animals and their products for the U.S. food supply in January 2008, companies are now in the process of developing their policies on offering food from cloned animals to the public. There is no doubt that cloning is bad for animals – we must ensure that biotech corporations and industrialized animal agriculture do not profit from this cruelty.

The FDA has revealed little about the tremendous animal welfare implications of cloning, but according to studies, only five percent of cloning attempts are "successful" (even in the most optimistic scenario, no more than 20-30 percent of cloning attempts will succeed), and those animals who do survive, commonly suffer from deformities, heart, kidney, and liver disorders. The surrogate mothers used in cloning research also suffer from fetal overgrowth, repeated surgeries and pregnancy complications that have resulted in death. 

Animal cloning is ethically and morally unsound, and once the technology gains a foothold and cloned products have entered the market place, there is no turning back. And unlike drugs approved by the FDA, cloned animal products cannot be recalled. Neither the FDA nor the USDA plan to label cloned animal products.

You Can Help
Two out of three Americans are uncomfortable with the concept of cloned animals, and major stores such as Kroger, Safeway and Whole Foods have already come out against it, stating that they will not sell cloned animal products in their stores. And while fast food giant McDonald’s has reported that it wants to take the lead in advancing animal welfare practices—they have not yet taken a stand against cloning. This is the very least this company can do. Please encourage them to take a strong stand against the cruelty of cloning and to reject any type of cloned animal products.  

Please ask McDonald’s to make a public pledge to refuse to sell products from cloned animals or their offspring. Write your e-mail below and we will deliver it, and all our supporters’ letters, to the decision makers at McDonald's along with the request that they sign a public pledge to Say NO to Cloning!

Use the McDonald’s feedback form and urge them to take a stand against cloning.

Want to do more?
States are taking steps to mandate labeling of cloned animal products. Find out what bills are pending in your state and how to contact your legislators.

Your voice and those of your neighbors, friends, family and coworkers are important. Please act on this critical issue today!

Background & Talking Points

Policy

• In January 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a ruling permitting the use of cloned animals and their offspring for human food.
• The USDA is maintaining the voluntary moratorium on cloned animals, although considerably weakened: The moratorium no longer covers the offspring of clones, is only voluntary, and is being managed by the cloning industry.
• The European Parliament has called for a ban in the European Union on animal cloning for food. They also urged an embargo on imports of cloned animals, their offspring and products derived from these sources.

Public Opinion

• Two out of three Americans are uncomfortable with animal cloning, according to the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology.  In addition, public opinion polls show that 89% of consumers want food from clones labeled, and that most Americans are unlikely to buy milk, meat and eggs from offspring of cloned animals even with FDA assurances that they are safe for human consumption.

Animal Welfare

• More than 95% of cloning attempts fail. Of the 5% of cloned animals who survive, a disproportionate number suffer from—among other health problems: deformities, early death, heart, kidney, and liver disorders.
• Over 50% of all calf clones suffer from Large Offspring Syndrome, in which the calf is grossly oversized and often displays other significant abnormalities.
• The surrogate mothers also suffer from a range of pregnancy complications, including a high rate of “hydrops,” an often fatal condition in which the mother and/or fetus swells with fluid. This condition is extremely rare (only 1 in 7,500) in traditionally-bred cattle.
• Older clones who may appear healthy have been known to develop “adult clone sudden death syndrome,” which casts doubt on the assumption that cloned animals can ever be considered healthy.

To learn more about Farm Sanctuary’s Anti-Cloning Efforts, visit:  http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/campaigns/