Current Press Releases

Farm Sanctuary Issues Statement on FDA’s Ruling Approving the Use of Genetically Engineered Animals

Organization Calls for Obama Administration to Reverse “Ill-Conceived Money Grab”

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – January 16, 2009 – Gene Baur, president and co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization, today issued the following statement in response to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruling this week to allow genetically engineered animals into the human food supply, citing animal welfare concerns:

“Farm Sanctuary is deeply concerned about the FDA’s ruling to allow genetically engineered animals into the human food supply. In addition, we are concerned that they aren’t required to be labeled, so consumers will not be able to make informed choices about whether to support this controversial practice. Farm Sanctuary maintains that animal welfare concerns have been ignored to placate powerful industries primarily interested in increasing profits, regardless of ethical outcomes. We ask the incoming Obama Administration to reverse this ill-conceived money grab and listen to public concerns regarding animal welfare.

“Biotech corporations and industrialized animal agriculture seek to benefit from genetically engineered animals not only at the expense of consumers but also the animals that suffer at the hands of these industries. Farm animals are particularly at risk. At Farm Sanctuary, we regularly witness the devastating animal suffering caused when producers attempt to manipulate animals through selective breeding to increase production and efficiency.

“Animal growth rates have already been increased to a point that negatively impacts animal health and welfare. Turkeys and chickens have been selectively bred to grow twice as fast, and twice as large, as their ancestors. The stress of growing so quickly makes them susceptible to cardiovascular disease and many suffer from crippling foot and leg problems, as their legs are unable to support their tremendous weight.

“Modern dairy cows are driven to produce an average of 20,260 pounds of milk per year, up from 4,200 pounds of milk per year in 1925. They are worn out after just a few years in production and then sent to slaughter. The logical path to improve farm animal welfare would be to eliminate the overly intensive and harmful production methods currently in use.

“Furthermore, contrary to claims that genetic engineering can help promote animal welfare by creating disease resistant animals, large numbers of animals will suffer in developing these genetically engineered strains. Genetic engineering technology is so imprecise that it can take hundreds to thousands of animals to create only one GE animal who is considered marketable. In fact, for farm animals, only 1% of genetic engineering attempts are ‘successful.’ Unintended side effects are common and can cause serious animal welfare problems.

“In one telling example, researchers genetically engineered pigs to make them grow faster and have less carcass fat, but contrary to their goals, these pigs were plagued by unanticipated side effects including ulcers, kidney damage, diarrhea, mammary development in males, arthritis, lameness, skin and eye problems, and reproductive abnormalities. The National Research Council reported that ‘Of the 19 pigs expressing the transgene, 17 died within the first year.’ Some health problems may get worse or not even become apparent until the animal ages, or they may show up in later generations of offspring.

“Farm Sanctuary is strongly opposed to genetically engineering animals, and is gravely concerned about the technology’s unpredictability and documented history of causing animal suffering. Not all technology is progressive. In this case, it’s a regression from our own humanity.”

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry through research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland, Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be found at www.farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225.