New Report Says US Food System Faces Growing Risks From Gene-Edited Farm Animals

A new report from Friends of the Earth U.S. raises concerns about the risks posed by genetically engineered animals approved for human consumption without adequate scientific and regulatory scrutiny. The report highlights the approval of cattle modified for heat tolerance and pigs engineered for disease resistance or reduced allergenicity, stating that these animals are being designed to endure industrial farming conditions rather than address the issues of overcrowding, pollution, and disease in those systems. The report also documents high failure rates in cloning and gene-editing procedures, along with potential health risks such as antibiotic resistance, virulent viruses, and new allergens entering the food supply.

The report calls for policymakers to halt further approvals of genetically engineered animals, close regulatory loopholes, require independent scientific review of industry data, and mandate on-package labeling to inform consumers. Friends of the Earth advocates for a transformation of the food system towards agroecological and pasture-based farming systems that prioritize public health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability over engineering animals to withstand harmful conditions in industrial farming.